2 February 2017: The Government of Finland reported to Parliament on national implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Government’s implementation has been based on a two-pronged approach: first, securing carbon neutrality and wise use of resources, and second, ensuring non-discrimination and equality.

The Prime Minister’s Office houses a Sustainable Development Coordination Secretariat, which coordinates national actions to fulfill the 2030 Agenda. It also leads the National Commission on Sustainable Development, which has been operating for 23 years, and works in close coordination with the country’s Development Policy Committee.

The Secretariat requested the Government’s line ministries to identify existing policies, measures, activities and budgets that are contributing to achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This mapping exercise informed the development of Finland’s 2030 Agenda National Implementation Plan.

Finland aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix, produce environmentally-friendly services and products, and develop low-carbon forms of transport.

On the ecological aspects of fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, Finland is focused on increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix, producing environmentally-friendly services and products, and developing low-carbon forms of transport. On social inclusion, Finland has prioritized preventing youth and long-term unemployment, avoiding the exclusion of minorities, preventing inequality in the housing and labor markets, supporting lifelong learning, and ensuring equal access to human services.

As part of Finland’s national action strategy, a multi-stakeholder approach encourages all actors – companies, government agencies, educational institutions, cities and other entities – to make their own commitments. To date, over 400 commitments have been made.

In July 2016, Finland presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) of implementation at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York. The VNR highlighted that Finland was applying 39 national sustainable development indicators to monitor and review status and trends in sustainable development, and the government said that it planned to revise these in line with the 2030 Agenda.

Along with the Government of Colombia, Finland organized a side event during the 2016 HLPF to share good practices in institutional development and stakeholder engagement towards SDG implementation. The event highlighted the need for high-level political support to promote policy coherence between mainstream development policy and the sustainable development agenda.

The 2017 session of the HLPF will feature VNR presentations by 43 countries. [Government of Finland Press Release] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Finland’s VNR] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Finland-Colombia HLPF Side Event] [National Inputs to 2016 VNR]