On November 26, 2020, India and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation and strengthening of technological, scientific and management capabilities in the field of Environment protection and biodiversity conservation. It was virtually signed by Union Minister Prakash Keshav Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on behalf of India and Krista Mikkonen, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change on behalf of Finland.
- This MoU will enable exchanging of best practices in areas like prevention of Air and water pollution; Waste management; Promotion of circular economy, low-carbon solutions and sustainable management of natural resources including forests; Climate change; Conservation of Marine and Coastal Resources; etc.
- It will also provide opportunity to have joint projects in areas of mutual interest and for the fulfilment of commitments made under Paris Agreement for sustainable development.
India’s Targets regarding Environment Protection:
— India already achieved its voluntary target of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) by 21% over 2005 levels in 2020.
–India took three quantitative climate change goals as a part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement. These are:
- Reduction in the emissions intensity of Gross Domestic Product by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
- Achieving about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030
- Creation of an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
Relationship between India & Finland:
The diplomatic relations between India and Finland was established in 1949. The bilateral trade between India and Finland was 1.284 billion USD in 2016-17. Finland was India’s 60th largest trade partner globally, and the 10th largest within the EU (Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India 2017). Similarly in 2016, India was Finland’s 23rd largest trade partner globally, and the fifth largest within Asia (Finnish Customs 2017).
Recent Related News:
i.The Central Government has approved MoU for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources between Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines of India, and Geological Survey of Finland (Geologiantutkimuskeskus), Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland.
ii.As part of the United Nations International Day of Girl Child (11th October, 2020), 16-year old Aava Murto assumed the post of Finland’s Prime Minister for one day on 7th October, 2020 to raise awareness about gender equality. It was done as part of the “Girls Takeover” Program.
About Finland
Capital– Helsinki
Currency– Euro
Prime Minister (PM)– Sanna Mirella Marin (World’s youngest serving state leader and the youngest Prime Minister in Finland’s history.)
