01.06.2025
Scaling up the work in anticipating and resolving conflicts in the green transition
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The TAH Foundation and the RELEX Foundation have joined forces to fund Akordi, a Helsinki based organization specialised in environmental collaboration and conflict resolution. The funding allows Akordi to get out on the ground, and help municipalities, enterprises and local communities in finding fair and acceptable solutions to the puzzles presented by new industrial green transition projects.
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.
“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’s CEO Jonna Kangasoja explains.
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.
The main objective of the project is 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.
A multi-perspective advisory group supports our work
The members of our new advisory group often sit on opposite sides of the negotiating table. At the meeting of our advisors, experienced experts from different sectors have discussed how we could best scale up and establish Akordi’s proven procedures at the national level. It has been great to see that the advisors recognize the importance of our work and are happy to support it.
With the support of the advisory group, we aim to 1) take into account the concrete challenges and opportunities in different regions and industries, 2) bring together the perspectives of different sectors, right-holders, and stakeholders so that the challenges of the acceptance of the green transition can be resolved fairly, and 3) scale up the practices based on joint problem-solving by the parties involved, and embed them in national practices.
Advisors:
Angelique Irjala | City of Kristinestad
Arto Hietaniemi | University of Eastern Finland
Hanna Halmeenpää | The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation
Hannele Pokka
Heidi Paalatie | Renewables Finland
Jenni Hunnakko | MTK Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners
Johanna Kentala-Lehtonen | The Prime Minister’s Office
Joonas Söderholm | City of Oulu
Laura Höijer | Ministry of the Environment of Finland
Mats Brandt | Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
Mila Segervall | City of Kristinestad
Minna Ojanperä | Confederation of Finnish Industries
Outi Kuittinen | RELEX Foundation
Sanna Hast | Reindeer Herders’ Association
Sanna Jylhä | Ministry of the Environment of Finland
Tapani Veistola | The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation
Taru Tujunen
Teppo Säkkinen | Chambers of Commerce
Tiina Sanila-Aikio
Touko Sipiläinen | Greenpeace Finland
Tuuli Orasmaa | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland
Read more:
7.7.2025 Akordi received significant funding from TAH Foundation and RELEX Foundation for better future
