NordenBladet — As the impacts of climate change expand, the need for adaptation measures, and for international funding for adaptation, will increase. Finland supports the Adaptation Fund, which operates under the Paris Agreement and funds concrete projects that help the most vulnerable people in developing countries.As climate change progresses, its impacts will expand. In addition to gradual changes, extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods or hurricanes, will become more common. Industrialised countries are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, but it is the most vulnerable people in the poorest countries who suffer the most from the impacts. This is why developed countries are funding measures to adapt to climate change, such as climate-smart agriculture, in the poorest countries.
NordenBladet — An overall international evaluation of the Academy of Finland has been completed. According to the evaluation, the Academy functions well as a whole given its financial and operational constraints. It may be necessary to review these constraints in order for the Academy to achieve the best results as part of Finland’s research and innovation system. The Academy could be a stronger international player in other ways in addition to the research it funds and could be a more visible participant in public debate domestically. The final report on the overall evaluation was published on Tuesday 1 March.The Academy of Finland was praised, among other things, for the efficiency of its operations, for its multidisciplinary projects and for the high standards with which it has handled new tasks. When receiving the evaluation report, Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen emphasised that only high-quality research can have an impact and open doors to international cooperation.“The evaluation published today states that the Academy of Finland has led the way in the Finnish scientific community with respect to succeeding in the international arena. The Academy of Finland does excellent, indispensable work,” Minister Kurvinen said.The goal of the overall evaluation was to find ways to improve the Academy’s impact, operations and structures. The evaluation gives the government, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Academy itself recommendations for the future role of the Academy of Finland.According to the evaluation, the systemic thinking of Finland’s research and innovation policy has degraded over the past decade. However, the current objective to increase the intensity of research and development to four per cent of GDP is a sign of the recovery and new dynamism of this dimension.The evaluation’s recommendations to the government include ensuring that the Academy remains a part of the research and development system when making decisions about the system. The research community and society at large must feel ownership towards the Academy.The report recommends increasing the Academy’s research funding to support the four per cent goal of research and development intensity. Increasing the funding would also remedy the undersized share of applications represented by projects to be funded. The report recommends a review of the Academy’s research funding instruments.With respect to the future of the Academy, a key challenge is to reinforce the Academy’s sustainability in its most important role, which is qualitative funding and the quality assurance of research. The Academy’s ability to flexibly link with other operators in the research system both nationally and internationally must be strengthened.The overall international evaluation of the Academy of Finland was carried out in 2021. The evaluation was conducted by a consortium led by the international Technopolis Group in partnership with Finnish company 4Front Oy. The previous international evaluation of the Academy was completed in 2013.Evaluation report: Evaluation of the Academy of FinlandRecording of the report’s publication event (YouTube)
NordenBladet — The food industry has renewed its commitment to materials efficiency to promote more sustainable food production, distribution and consumption in 2022–2026. The Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, the Finnish Grocery Trade Association and the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa have signed the commitment together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment.During the first period in 2019–2021, the 17 companies that joined the commitment succeeded in reducing food and other waste, the use of plastics as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The results were achieved by improving the efficiency of processes, utilising side streams and increasing the recycling rate. These excellent results have encouraged operators to sign the commitment in the new agreement period. The restaurant sector will be a new signatory, which will further increase the impact of the commitment.The food industry companies aim to achieve sector-specific economic and environmental benefits through practical measures on materials efficiency. At the same time, awareness of the means and benefits of materials efficiency will be raised among consumers and throughout the food production chain. The aim is that by the end of 2024, companies that have signed the commitment will represent 90%, 40% and 20% of the turnover of the member companies in the Finnish Grocery Trade Association, the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation and the Finnish Hospitality Association MaRa, respectively. “Commitments to materials efficiency are a great example of voluntary cooperation between the business community and central government. It became evident already in the first agreement period that reducing the environmental impacts of food production, distribution and consumption is compatible with improving competitiveness of businesses,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. “This would not be possible if all parties to the commitment did not benefit from it. I am confident that the new agreement period will be a success too. I am pleased to welcome the restaurant sector to the commitment to improve materials efficiency,” Lintilä adds.Commitment to promote the circular economy The materials efficiency commitment is an operating model used to implement several national and international environmental objectives.“The voluntary measures of the food sector’s materials efficiency commitment show that the food industry, consumer goods trade and restaurants are actively leading the way in this matter. These measures will promote national sustainability goals, such as halving food waste by 2030. It is possible to achieve significant economic and environmental benefits that also improve the profitability and competitiveness of companies,” says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä. The company will select its own materials efficiency measures and goals. For example, companies can commit to cutting food and other waste, improving materials efficiency through product, packaging and service design, and developing the use of side streams. “The commitment offers businesses the opportunity to be responsible players in taking the lead in environmental issues. More efficient use of materials also increases company profits. Hopefully, companies in the sectors will join the commitment and in that way help Finland become a carbon neutral society with a circular economy,” says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Emma Kari.
NordenBladet — On 28 February 2022, the Finnish Government issued the Decree on the implementation of the Decision and Regulation of the Council of the European Union concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.Finland’s airspace has already been closed to Russian aircraft by EU legislation. The Government decree specifies the implementation of the sanctions. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency will grant exceptions as referred to in the Council Decision and Regulation. The Decree will enter into force on 28 February 2022 and will remain in force until further notice. The Decree will be repealed or amended in accordance with decisions made by the European Union due to Russia’s attack against Ukraine.Government resolution (in Finnish)
NordenBladet — On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges for the attack rifles, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons and 70,000 combat ration packages to Ukraine as material aid.Following Russia’s launch of a military attack, Ukraine has requested material assistance from the EU and NATO Member States. Several EU Member States have announced that they will deliver weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as material aid. The situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult because of Russia’s military attack and there is an immediate need for defence materiel.The joint meeting of the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on 24 February and 27 February 2022 discussed the situation in Ukraine and possible material assistance to Ukraine.On 27 February, as part of international aid, the President of the Republic decided that bulletproof vests, composite helmets and emergency medical service (EMS) units be delivered to Ukraine. The Government also decided to authorise the re-transfer of artillery from Estonia to Ukraine. Press release 27 February 2022.In addition, the EU Foreign Ministers decided on 27 February that the EU will support Ukraine through the European Peace Facility.
NordenBladet — According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published on 28 February 2022, climate change is a serious threat to human wellbeing. The impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed between regions. More than three billion people are living in extremely vulnerable conditions. Besides actions to mitigate climate change, even more effective adaptation measures are also needed.Press release of the Ministry of the Environment, Finnish Environment Institute and Natural Resources Institute FinlandThe latest IPCC report discusses the impacts of climate change, adaptation to changes and vulnerabilities. According to the report, the impacts of climate change affect large groups of people and have wide impacts on the natural environment and regions. Heatwaves, drought and forest fires have become increasingly common all over the world, which has impacts on all ecosystems. Food and water security have also been weakened. According to the scientific community, the current measures may not be enough to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.“We will see a significant increase in the risks posed by climate change in the next few decades if we do not succeed in climate work. The impacts and risks are complicated and hard to predict in any detail, but we already know that new kinds of climate change resilient solutions will be needed,” says Mikael Hildén, member of Finland’s IPCC working group and Director of the Climate Change Programme of the Finnish Environment Institute.Preserving biodiversity and ecosystems is extremely important in terms of climate change resilient development. The report stresses that the adaptation and mitigation measures must be adjusted to the local and regional conditions as the risk differ a great deal in different continents.Disparities in the development paths and equality issues must be taken into account in the solutions. All stakeholders must be involved in climate work: the state, businesses and private citizens. The financial aspects of climate actions must be taken into account at all levels and in all sectors of society.Progress made in adaptation but systemic changes are neededThe extent and speed of climate change and the risks associated with it will depend on the mitigation and adaptation measures to be taken in the near future. Current adaptation measures will not be sufficient if climate warming exceeds the level of 1.5 degrees.Adaptation measures have succeeded in mitigating some of the most serious consequences of climate change, but what the IPCC now calls for is more dramatic, systemic changes, i.e. changes in the structures of the ways we operate and their interactions.“The message from the scientific community is clear: climate change is not in the future but it has already caused irreversible changes. We need changes in our thinking and systems in such a way that climate change adaptation becomes part of all decision-making, in Finland, in the EU and in international climate negotiations. The further we postpone the mitigation and adaptation measures, the more costly they will be, both from the human and environmental perspectives and for the economy,” says Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Emma Kari.The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is currently leading the process to prepare the new National Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Finland, which should be ready by the end of this year. The plan is part of Finland’s work to be prepared for the changing climate during this decade.“The foresight work that looks into the future enables us to prepare for and adapt to climate change. Through extensive cooperation we can secure the conditions for business and livelihoods and mitigate the impacts of climate change on people’s lives. Besides this, we can identify new opportunities, especially in the agriculture and forestry sectors that are capable of sequestering carbon,” says Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.Timely and effective preparedness measures require a strong knowledge base.“By developing weather and climate services for vulnerable countries Finland can support their ability to manage the harm caused by climate risks and aim for sustainable development,” says Jussi Kaurola, Director General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute and chair of the national IPCC working group.Climate change has already weakened food securityClimate change has already weakened the food security of millions of people around the world, especially in the equatorial regions. Increasingly severe and frequent heatwaves, droughts and floods have caused problems for food production, supply chains and food safety. In the coming years climate change will weaken food security even further due to weaker pollination and soil productivity and growing pressures caused by pests and diseases.“The adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security can be restricted through different kinds of adaptation measures, and some of these have already been implemented. However, as climate change progresses, the impacts of individual adaptation measures will be quite limited,” says Taru Palosuo, Principal Scientist at the Natural Resources Institute Finland.“Climate change adaptation requires actions that focus on production, such as increasing the diversity of climate change resilient species and farming systems. We also need to strengthen local food systems and cross-sectoral adaptation strategies that take into account food production, consumption and social justice.”Climate change has impacts on floods and drought in Finland as wellFloods and drought may occur in the same areas, which is why the water economy should also be examined as a whole. Impacts caused by drought, such as a decline in access to water and rising food prices, may increase social tensions.In the global context northern Europe may suffer less from floods and storm damages than other regions, but even here different people will be affected in different ways. This is why a key focus should be on justice when developing adaptation measures.“Finland has abundant water resources and the risks associated with drought are smaller than in the other parts of the world. On average, climate change will increase precipitation in Finland, but risks caused by drought will also grow, especially in southern and central Finland,” says Noora Veijalainen, Head of Unit at the Finnish Environment Institute.One way to reduce flood risks is through different kinds of nature-based solutions. What this could mean in Finland is making wider use of methods to manage the soil water economy.What is IPCC?The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC analyses scientifically produced information on climate change for decision-making.The Assessment Reports of IPCC are produced as an outcome of years of work by the IPCC community. With regard to the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures, the work culminated in the intensive meeting held on 14-27 February 2022. After the meeting, an extensive Assessment Report and a Summary for Policymakers were published.
NordenBladet — The Ministry of Finance has published common policies and recommendations for the development of application programming interfaces (APIs) in the public sector. The API principles are organised into three levels: strategic, tactical and operative.Strategic principles apply to the organisation’s management. These principles describe how the direction and goals of API development should be defined and how APIs should be taken into account in the development of operations. Tactical principles apply to those in charge of developing information management in the organisation. They guide the management of API development and the organisation’s system of APIs. Operative principles apply to those who develop and maintain APIs. They guide the development and maintenance of individual APIs.The API principles are intended for use by the entire public administration in interface development and information system procurement. The goal of the principles is to increase customer orientation, cooperation, semantic and technical interoperability, reusability, attention to information security and data protection, and quality in API development.The API principles will be used in the national implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on an API Framework for digital government. The principles were prepared in an open process with the participation of stakeholders and experts. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency will take over the maintenance of the Public Administration API Principles from 2022.
NordenBladet — Decision-making by EU countries concerning closing their airspace to Russian air traffic is progressing. Finland is preparing to act according to the policies agreed in the EU. We will make further announcements as soon as more information on the matter is available.
NordenBladet — On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will increase its aid to Ukraine and also provide military protective equipment to assist the country.The aid is granted under the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. The Ministry of Defence is the authority responsible for the aid. Finland will send to Ukraine 2,000 bulletproof vests, 2,000 composite helmets, 100 stretchers as well as equipment for two emergency medical care stations. The Government also granted Estonia a licence to re-export to Ukraine artillery guns and their ammunition, which Estonia had previously purchased from Finland.Finland supports the initiative of the EU High Representative to use the European Peace Facility to assist Ukraine also in the form of military materials.In addition, Finland will send humanitarian material assistance to Ukraine through the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism in the next few days. The assistance includes tents and medical protective equipment. Finland will collect and provide more material to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The Ministry of the Interior is the authority responsible for the assistance and it will be coordinated by Europe’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), which received Ukraine’s request. Several EU Member States have responded to the request. Finland decided already on 17 and 24 February to grant Ukraine a total of EUR 14 million in new financial support. Of this, EUR 8.2 million is humanitarian assistance and EUR 5.8 million is development cooperation funding. In total, Finland’s support to Ukraine for 2014–2022 will be approximately EUR 85 million.Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Finland supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, self-determination and territorial integrity. Russia’s military operations have caused a large-scale humanitarian emergency in Ukraine. The EU foreign ministers will discuss additional assistance to Ukraine in the evening of Sunday 27 February. The Government will inform Parliament of the matter and will also assess the possibility of new support measures.
NordenBladet — On Sunday 27 February, the President of the Republic and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation in Ukraine following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. They also discussed assistance to Ukraine.