Press releases

Based on a recent evaluation, the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE is a progressive research institute that is widely appreciated in society. It produces research and expertise of a high standard and its societal impact is significant. What SYKE could do, however, is show even stronger leadership as a promoter of sustainable development, both internationally and nationally.

The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE has again produced an assesment of the state of the coastal waters of the Gulf of Finland and the open sea surrounding Finland from the southern Baltic Sea to the Bay of Bothnia. The state of the Gulf of Finland is better than it has been in the past few years, but the deteriorated state of the Bothnian Sea gives cause for concern.

Tuesday 20 October 2020 is International Landscape Day. The Ministry of the Environment will organise a photo contest in honour of the day and the Rural Women’s Advisory Organisation will organise guided landscape walks. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the European Landscape Convention.

A new, free tool for oil spill response at sea is now available online for authorities and local response units. The aim of the tool is to minimize environmental impacts of oil spills in the Arctic and around the world. The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE and Aarhus University have cooperated in the GRACE project to create a new planning tool to protect the sea.

This autumn, we are celebrating landscapes as it is the 20th anniversary of the European Landscape Convention. Vibrant landscape is an important part of the European identity. Landscapes are celebrated in Finland in various ways such as a photography competition open to all, a photography campaign and scenic walks.