The environmental damage fund starts on 1.1.2025

Payments to the fund based on environmental risk

Compensation is paid from the fund for the costs caused by the prevention of environmental pollution and the restoration of the polluted environment, as well as for the damage caused, when the compensation cannot be collected from the actual responsible party, for example due to insolvency or because the responsible party cannot be identified. In addition, within the limits of the amount transferred from the state budget, discretionary grants are awarded from the fund to the parties responsible for organizing rescue operations for the procurement of environmental damage prevention.

The fund's funds for paying compensations are collected through environmental damage fees. The obligation to pay is based on carrying out activities that cause the risk of environmental pollution. The payment is either one-time or annual. In practice, the fee applies to almost all activities that require a permit, notification, and registration based on the Environmental Protection Act. The group of payers will expand compared to the current environmental damage insurance system.

The amount of the environmental damage fee is affected by the risk of environmental pollution related to the activity. The aim of the new environmental damage fund is to ensure that the state does not have to pay the environmental obligations of operators with tax funds.

In principle, collecting the environmental damage fee does not require the operator to take any measures

The payment authority delivers the payment decision and the invoice to the operators liable to pay. The environmental damage fee is borne by the ELY center of South Ostrobothnia. In 2025, only one-time environmental damage payments will be charged to the fund. The collection of annual environmental damage fees will be implemented for the first time in 2026, and the payment will always be directed to activities carried out in the previous year.

More information from the environmental damage fund page ym.fi/ymbaristosakkurahasto

More information from the environmental damage fee page https://www.ymparisto.fi/fi/luvat-ja-velvoitteet/ymparistovahinkomaksu