Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) Mr. Kaarle Kupiainen

1. What is the mission and mandate of your Committee?

The objective of EPOC is to support the development of policies aiming at protecting and restoring the environment, as well as responding to major environmental issues and threats. There is particular focus on promoting improved environmental policies and their integration with economic, social and sectoral policies in line with a green-growth and sustainable-development approach. EPOC encourages cooperation among Member and Partner countries I the pursuit of shared environmental objectives and improved environmental performance. An aspect of this work is identifying environmental trends, progress and deficiencies for countries through the development and use of environmental and green-growth indicators and standardised, comparable sets of data and statistics.

2. You have been designated Committee Chair. What is your background and what has convinced you to take up this post? How do you consider your background and experience contribute to such a role and function?

I hold a PhD in Environmental Policy and work as the Minister Advisor in the Ministry of the Environment in Finland. My role is to represent the Finnish government in a number of international for a, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Panel on Climate Change, the International cooperation on short-lived climate pollutants, including black carbon and methane within organisations such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Arctic Council, World Bank GGFR and the Global Methane Initiative. Being able to connect the dots between all the international work, and understanding the global challenges for the environment allow me to contribute much to the rule and function of the EPOC Chair.

3. What is your main priority as Chair?

EPOC has a very broad and ambitious work programme. My main priority as Chair will be to ensure that the work programme is undertaken and delivered ensuring that delegates have the space and time to fully digest and debate the issues.

4. How would you define the added value of your Committee in relation to the work of the OECD in an international context? How does it differ from other international fora dealing with the same topic?

It is clear that the environmental issues, especially issues such as Climate Change, Biodiversity and Circular Economy are issues that are being studied by many committees at OECD. EPOC is the highest-ranking OECD committee with a mandate to help countries tackle the major challenges. Unlike other international organisations, OECD is an international organisation that focuses its work on domestic policy challenges. This is a unique role and one EPOC plays well. OECD being an economic organisation means the economics of these issues is at the forefront of the work produced.

5. Are you facing any specific major challenge derived from the current multilateral environment?

It is clear the key challenge is keeping the environmental issues on the front burner given the current global context – a world pandemic and a war in Ukraine.

6. How do you encourage, and ensure national experts engage productively in the work of your Committee?

It all starts from how the programme is built. In EPOC, we work hard to produce a work programme thinking of the substance first, and ensuring everyone sees something of value in the work we undertake. This is the key to ensuring national experts engage productively in the work of the Committee.

7. How do you help maximise policy coherence through the work of the Committee?

Maximising policy coherence comes from working horizontally. EPOC is leading the Horizontal Project on Climate and Economic Resilience. Working with over 13+ committees to deliver this work ensures that the work across the Programme and across the Organisation is consistent and the messages make sense.

8. How do you ensure effective decision-making by the Committee?

Effective decision-making is a combination of good working methods (delegates know where information is located) and the decision-making is transparent (delegates know the position of others and has complete and well-written analysis from the Secretariat). Once these two elements are brought together, Delegates are able to have a meaningful opportunity to exchange opinions and come to an outcome that is embraced by the Committee as a whole.

9. Could you mention the most important documents/reports that the Committee/Group has issued in the last 2 years? Why are these important and what has been their impact?

It is clear the most important document came out of the most important meeting: The Meeting of the Environment Policy Committee at Ministerial Level. At this meeting all Member countries and 5 non-members signed up to the ambitious "Declaration on a Resilient and Healthy Environment for All". The Declaration underlines the key role of the OECD and EPOC in supporting the development of transformative and innovative policies and standards to build stronger, sustainable, net-zero, resilient, and inclusive economies. To this end, it call on Adherents to develop and implement effective and ambitious environmental and climate strategies, strengthen efforts to align COVI-19 recovery plans with environmental and climate goals, and develop comprehensive and coherent life cycle approaches to tackle plastic pollution.

10. How can you encourage synergies between policy communities?

The Horizontal Project is a key catalyst for encouraging synergies between policy communities. It will help countries to better define and understand issues of interest to a number of ministries. In addition, EPOC has always worked in a very horizontal way, understanding that there is a need to align all policy areas if we are going to tackle today’s environmental challenges.

11. How do you see the role played by the Secretariat?

The Secretariat provides the analytical rigour to ensure EPOC has a full understanding of the issues. We also count on them to push the envelope, look at the new issues on the horizon and muster interest from Members to study them at an early stage. Over time, there has been a lot of trust built between the Secretariat and the Countries. This is essential given the importance of the issues, and the important transition through which, countries will need to shepherd their citizens.

12. In relation to the standard-setting role, what do you suggest to maintain the relevance and impact of OECD standards over time? Which areas need strengthening?

Environment Ministers have invited the OECD, through EPOC, to develop new work in a number of key areas including updating OECD standards on the environment. Twenty percent of all OECD instruments are under the responsibility of EPOC. There is a need to ensure that the instruments are kept up to date and EPOC has started the work to ensure the "Acquis" is modernised and useful.

13. How have you ensured a contribution of your actions or influence to continuous improvement within the Organisation?

To all we do we are constantly looking for partners to strengthen the horizontal nature of our work. The Committee is a place where countries can come and discuss best practice that inspires and renders national policy making more useful. Finally yet importantly, the committee is dedicated to the "value-for-money" logic.

14. What are the practical implications of the work of your Committee/Group?

All 38 countries are engaged in the work of EPOC. This comes from providing robust analytical outputs that can be used by policy makers. In addition, the issues treated by EPOC are of interest to many other committees and working together, we manage to help countries to align their policies for a cleaner environment and better economy.

15. What would be your key advice to a person taking up the post of Chair of an OECD Committee/ Group?

I am new to the position, but from my point of view it is important that anyone who takes on this role be committed. This means, taking the time to read the documentation and understand what the playing field. Each country will come with their view, finding consensus is the goal. To do this the Chair has to understand the different views, be a good listener and look for the common accords, not just the disaccord. Last but not least, have some experience, or some natural talent in chairing meetings.