Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development (FNCSD)

Finland´s sustainable development policy is based on institutional learning and broad participation wherein various societal actors take part in the definition and implementation of sustainable development. The Government established the Finnish National Commission on Sustainable Development (FNCSD) in 1993 to promote sustainable development in Finland, and the Commission has operated continuously since that time.

TheFNCSD acts as a forum where different stakeholders can present their ideas, goals and programmes and engage in a broad debate about sustainability. The Commission has introduced and debated many highly topical themes, acted as an interpreter between national and international sustainable development trends and supported the work carried out by various actors. The Commission has played an active role in the preparation, endorsement and approval of different strategies, programmes and processes for sustainable development, including the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of June 2006. A discussion forum open for different groups of actors has also been seen as a valuable factor building up national integrity.

The composition of the FNCSD is broad. In order to give political impetus to the work, the Government has taken the lead in the Commission. It was chaired by the Prime Ministers - four altogether - for 14 years, until April 2007. After the parliamentary election in 2007 the Minister of Labour took the lead together with the vice-chair, Minister of the Environment. Four other Ministers from the Government as well as representatives from all spheres of the Finnish society are members of the Commission. The Parliament, public administration including local authorities, business and industry, labour unions, NGOs, various interest groups, the media and churches are all invited to give their input in guiding Finland into a sustainable path. Finland's two official languages Finnish and Swedish have also been taken into account in the representation, as well as the Finnish indigenous people Sami.

The work of the FNCSD is outlined and prepared by an inter-ministerial secretariat, which operates as a network and convenes 8-10 times a year. The secretariat comprises about 20 members from different ministries, each taking the lead in preparations for themes within their area of expertise. The FNCSD´s Secretary General and Secretary come from the Ministry of the Environment, which also looks after practical arrangements and provides funding for the Commission´s work.

More information

Secretary General Sauli Rouhinen, Ministry of the Environment, tel. +358 50 565 8394