01.06.2025
Managing a changing planning landscape in Kristiinankaupunki – a new model of interaction for the EIA process
Open project database
As part of Akordi’s year-long project, funded by TAH and Relex, five living labs were set up, in which models for interaction and conflict management were tested in a real-world environment in collaboration with various stakeholders. One of these living labs was in Kristiinankaupunki in Ostrobothnia, where there is currently a particularly high concentration of green transition projects.
The sheer number of projects and the complexity of the associated planning, licensing and EIA processes place a strain on the public resources and political decision-making in this small town. The lack of resources also limits the ability of local residents and environmental organisations to participate actively in the preparatory work. Official consultations, opinions, submissions and appeals relating to planning play a crucial role and are of vital importance to the legitimacy of the entire transition. The challenge with these procedures, however, is that they do not facilitate direct interaction and communication between the parties and do little to support the acceptable solutions or, for example, the creation of a shared knowledge base.
Akordi has assisted project developers from outside the region – and, in some cases, from abroad – in familiarising themselves with the operating environment and its specific characteristics, as well as in gaining a deeper understanding of the local context. Akordi organised several meetings between the city, various project developers, EIA consultants, nature organisations and other stakeholders. At these meetings, participants received up-to-date information on the projects and their progress. At the same time, the participants’ views, wishes and information were gathered, for example, to be taken into account in the drafting of the EIA programme, and it was ensured that local knowledge of the natural environment would be taken into account in the EIA procedure and project planning.
In spring 2026, following lengthy background discussions led by Akordi, an opportunity arose for the first meeting between the hydrogen project and the nature organisations. At the meeting, information was provided on the project and the impact assessment, the organisations’ concerns were discussed along with an acceptable way forward, and the exchange of nature-related knowledge between the parties was initiated. The meeting, facilitated by Akordi, fostered a constructive atmosphere for discussion, which helped to reduce the wariness between the parties.
On the initiative of a nature conservation organisation, an EIA steering group for the hydrogen project was established, comprising various stakeholders, an EIA consultant, the project operator and the authorities. The aim is for the dialogue and exchange of information, initiated at an early stage, to lead to a high-quality EIA process, the formation of a mutually acceptable knowledge base, and, in particular, the identification and investigation of impacts deemed to be significant. The meetings also serve to build a platform, perceived as meaningful, for objective and constructive discussion, as well as for joint problem-solving with the assistance of Akordi. For example, the EIA steering group undertook a joint field trip to the project area in the spring.
