The key vectors of partnership between Ukraine and Finland were discussed in Helsinki by First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi and Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland Kai Mykkänen.

In particular, the parties discussed the implementation of an ICI project to support Ukraine in environmental damage assessment and development of surface water quality and biodiversity monitoring. Ukraine received a corresponding proposal from the Finnish side in October 2023 during the International Conference “United for Justice. United for Nature” as part of the implementation of point 8 of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. Finland is a co-chair of the working group on this item.

Therefore, the technical assistance project is planned to be implemented in 2024-2027 to strengthen environmental monitoring of water and biodiversity in Ukraine in accordance with the requirements of the European Union.

The agreements reached between Ukraine and Finland also include:

• assistance to Ukraine in the development of water and biodiversity monitoring roadmaps for strategic planning and outlining steps to implement the requirements of EU directives;
• technical support for Ukrainian laboratories and human resources in chemicals research and the use of remote sensing tools.

According to the First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Finland’s environmental monitoring system is one of the best in Europe. Ukraine is only creating the necessary legal framework to launch a similar comprehensive national system. For example, biodiversity monitoring in Ukraine is fragmented and needs to be transformed and brought in line with European standards.

“Ukraine understands that it is possible to build a high-quality environmental policy only on the basis of reliable data on each component of nature. So today we are focused on developing our own comprehensive monitoring system. Finland’s experience is also valuable for us in terms of using remote sensing for areas affected by military operations,” said Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi.

The issues raised during the working visit also included monitoring of microplastics and PFAS compounds in the environment. The Ukrainian delegation visited the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and got acquainted with the work of the laboratory, in particular, with regard to microplastics detection.