Significant funding to a mediator organization for anticipating and resolving green transition conflicts on the local level

Green investments worth over €300 billion are in the pipeline in Finland, but many of these projects are at risk of being delayed or scrapped altogether due to local opposition. The arrival of large-scale projects can understandably feel uncontrollable to residents. Even though the projects have climate goals on their side, they still need to get the local community on board. Often, environmental and economic perspectives clash in discussions, dividing the community into camps for and against. The new project draws on lessons learned in the field of conflict resolution and offers new ways of managing the green transition on the local level.

Akordi's CEO Jonna Kangasoja explains: "It is clear that large industrial projects cause concern and uncertainty. Green transition projects often have negative environmental impacts, giving rise to so-called ‘green-on-green’ conflicts. In addition, projects change the livelihoods, population, and identity of the areas where they are located in significant ways. We need to quickly adopt better ways to anticipate and resolve these difficult equations together in fair and widely acceptable ways."

Akordi proposed a project targeted to these challenges to the TAH Foundation and the RELEX Foundation. The foundations co-fund the project with a total of €200,000.

"The green transition is not just about technology, or the economy, or the climate. It is also about nature, people, and justice. We need practical examples that show how conflicts related to the green transition can be resolved at the local level and how solutions that are good for local communities, businesses, nature, and the climate can be found. That is why we want to fund Akordi's work," says RELEX Foundation CEO Outi Kuittinen.

The work began in June. Over the course of a year these issues will be tackled in five localities, which are Kristiinankaupunki, Oulu, the western reindeer herding area, Sodankylä, and the Kaustinen region. There are some resources allocated to be able to attend to requests for help from other areas.

In Kristiinankaupunki, the work began with a discussion meeting for newly elected council members in June. With Akordi's support, the city wants to strengthen its own ability to deal with the major changes ahead in a transparent, controlled, and fair manner.

“One of the biggest issues in Kristiinankaupunki is the planned green transition projects, which will affect the vitality and future of the municipality. In cooperation with Akordi, we want to increase understanding of different perspectives and create a shared vision of the future through dialogue at the right time and based on sufficient information. The aim is for the discussion to be proactive and to focus on what kind of projects are wanted in Kristiinankaupunki and on what terms," says Mila Segervall, Mayor of Kristiinankaupunki.

Mats Brandt, Regional Mayor of Ostrobothnia, will be discussing the topic on July 11 at the Kristiinankaupunki Community Day, alongside Marjo Lehtisalo, Executive Director of the Ostrobothnia District of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. Brandt hopes that the Kristiinankaupunki pilot will produce an model that can be rolled out across the entire region.

The main objective of the project is, in fact, to roll out and scale procedures that have already been tested and validated in Akordi’s work. Akordi compiled these in a Playbook for the Local Acceptability of the Green Transition, published with the support of the TAH Foundation in November 2024. The Playbook provides concrete advice on how to earn local acceptance and build trust between the companies, municipalities, and residents.

"Akordi’s science-based and skilled approach draws from international best practices. It has proven to be very effective. Crafting collaborative and negotiated solutions on the local level is essential to be able to achieve a future within planetary boundaries," says Henna Hakkarainen, Executive Director of the TAH Foundation.