Water Impacts Day

The themes of the 2020 Water Impacts Day were collaboration and working together. Akordi was responsible for the design and implementation of the interactive parts of the event.
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Developing Low-Emission Transportation in Päijät-Häme

In autumn 2019, the Päijät-Häme Regional Council began working to promote low-emission transportation in the region. Akordi served as an expert in communication for the project and was responsible for workshops conducted in collaboration with stakeholders.
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A Workshop on Setting Environmental Objectives and Constraints of Water Management

A working group on environmental objectives and exemptions for water management set up by the Ministry of the Environment prepared a guide for planners in the ELY centres for the third planning period of water management. On February 28, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment invited the members of the monitoring group and the ELY Centres to discuss the development needs of the draft. The event, planned and facilitated by Akordi, aimed to get feedback and support for the finalization of the guide via collaborative discussion and reflection.
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The Päijänne Area

The “Päijänne Branding Project”, carried out by the city of Jyväskylä and Lahti University of Applied Sciences in 2018, promoted cooperation between sustainable and responsible activities in the Päijänne area. The project also explored the interest of regional operators in applying for UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. In the project's final workshop, led by Akordi, the outcomes of the project's events and investigations were reviewed, and options were considered for the next steps.
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The Future Vision of Helsinki’s Public Transportation and Citizen Adaptability

In autumn 2019, the City of Helsinki launched a comprehensive future analysis of its transportation systems. The initiative aims to evaluate how environmental shifts will influence the city's transportation systems and strategize how to prepare for these changes. Akordi conducted an adaptability analysis under the scope of the city’s initiative, which will provide recommendations for navigating these changes in collaboration with residents and other stakeholders.
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Training for Flood Group Leaders

On May 28, 2019, the Finnish Environment Institute organized a training led by Akordi that provided training to the leaders of flood groups. Topics such as initiating and strengthening stakeholder collaboration, as well as managing and resolving conflicts were covered in detail.
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Mid-Term Review of 2022 National Climate Change Adaptation Plan

The National Climate Change Adaptation Plan's mid-term evaluation wrapped up in April 2019. The aim was to pinpoint which areas and industries needed extra attention in the plan's later stages leading up to 2022. Akordi teamed up with Tyrsky-Konsultointi Oy to conduct an external examination of stakeholder…
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Update of the Wolf Population Management Plan

The plan for managing Finland's wolf population is a tool aimed at reconciling the needs of wolves and wolf conservation with those of the people living and working in wolf territories. The plan update started in fall 2018, with Akordi facilitating discussions in seven regional stakeholder events involving…
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Social Acceptance of Wind Power

The share of electricity generated from wind power has grown rapidly in recent decades, both in Europe and globally. Although wind power is a widely accepted form of energy production, local projects are increasingly facing opposition in Finland. In a project that ended in November 2018, Akordi developed new tools to strengthen the social acceptability and social license to operate of wind power in cooperation with wind industry actors and stakeholders.
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Aviapolis Stakeholder Workshops

Aviapolis is a new urban center in Vantaa, to be built next to the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. In the City of Vantaa's Aviapolis project, stakeholder workshops were organized to outline potential directions for future development of the area together with international partners and local stakeholders. Akordi was responsible for facilitating the workshops in early 2019.
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The Dicstrict Vision for Herttoniemi

In the spring and summer of 2018, the Herttoniemi district (comprising Western Herttoniemi, Herttoniemenranta, and Roihuvuori) developed its own vision, describing the shared aspirations of various stakeholders in the district for its future and generating ideas on how to achieve this envisioned future. Throughout the process, directions for development of the area were jointly identified, and concrete opportunities for constructive collaboration were explored. The vision process enabled citizens to participate in the long-term planning of their surrounding environment and work together with planning professionals, as well as introducing a new collaborative approach to urban development.
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Planning Principles for Good Air Quality in Helsinki’s Urban Boulevards

The City of Helsinki initiated a consultancy project in early 2017 to establish target-based planning principles for air quality in urban boulevards. Trafix Oy, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and Serum Architects conducted the work, and a wide range of stakeholders participated in the planning, with Akordi assisting in facilitating discussions during stakeholder workshops.
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The Tampere Eteläpuisto Park

In the Spring of 2015, the City of Tampere began an urban planning project involving the Southern Park and its surrounding areas. The project aimed to develop the area through infill construction. Akordi, as a neutral third party, provided assistance between 2015 and 2016 by facilitating discussions and helping resolve conflict in the preliminary meetings of the urban planning project, involving the City of Tampere and key stakeholders, including various resident groups.
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The establishing of the Kvarken archipelago nature conservation area

The establishing process of the Kvarken archipelago nature conservation area has been Finland’s largest environmental conflict resolution process assisted by a neutral third party. The work on the legislation draft has been demanding due to a decades-long history of conflict and a lack of trust…
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Developing a Collaborative Water Monitoring Platform with the Local Community and Mining Companies in Sodankylä

A collaborative water monitoring project is being developed in Sodankylä, Finland, to address concerns about the impact of mining on local waterways. The project, led by Akordi and funded by the Nessling Foundation, involves collaboration between mining companies, the local community, and various stakeholders. The goal is to improve the credibility and clarity of water monitoring data and address information needs beyond legal requirements. The collaborative group aims to create a functional model for joint water impact monitoring, with results to be presented at an open seminar in November 2023.
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Construction of a Collaborative Platform monitoring the Impacts of mining on Water Quality in Sodankylä

The project's objective is to create a collaborative water impact monitoring model with Sodankylä mining companies and local stakeholders and embed it in the local operational culture. The project's outcomes serve as a model for the mining sectors in Finland and the Nordic countries.
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Where will the conflicts generated by the Green Transition be resolved?

The green transition is a significant societal transformation, involving struggles between various interest groups. Which conflicts can be anticipated and avoided, and which battles are unavoidable? The aim of the green transition is the creation of a sustainable economy that does not rely on energy…
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Regional Flood Risk Management Groups

Regional flood risk management groups, established by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, work to minimize flood damages in Finnish riverine and coastal areas identified as flood risk areas. This collaborative work involves public authorities, the private sector, land owners , water rights holders, and third sector organizations. Akordi supported this work in 2019 by training leaders of flood risk management groups in Kymijoki river and the coastlines of Kotka and Hamina. The work also included facilitating workshops.
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MAL 2023 agreement for Helsinki region

The planning for the new agreement on land use, housing and transport (Maankäytön, asumisen ja liikenteen suunnittelukierros MAL) for Helsinki region has commenced. The aims featured in the previous MAL 2019 agreement will be revised based on the changed operating environment. Once the agreement is…
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Sustainable recovery in Helsinki-Uusimaa region

In autumn of 2020 the regional council of Helsinki-Uusimaa focused its strategic development on improving the framework of its stakeholder interactions. The aim was to synergize the different aims and measures drafted earlier in the regional plan, climate road map, traffic and transportation plan, and…
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Helsinki region MAL 2019 agreement

An agreement on land use, housing and transport (MAL) is a strategic plan that outlines how land use, housing and transportation is to be developed during the upcoming decades. Helsinki MAL 2019 combines the visions of the 14 municipalities in the Helsinki region, and outlines how the Helsinki region…
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Towards shared understanding of the changes in sustainability of forest use

In 2020, The Finnish Cultural Foundation granted a 150,000 euro Argumenta funding to the project “Towards shared understanding of the changes in sustainability of forest use”. The project is coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä School of Resource Wisdom (JYU.Wisdom), the Natural Resources…
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EKOTEKO project

EKOTEKO - Ecological compensations from theory to practice was a joint research project by University of Helsinki, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and Akordi. The project aim was to find a practical way to implement ecological compensations by combining science, dialogue and experimentation.…
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Vital Vantaa program

In 2018 the city of Vantaa established a working group to prepare a program and measures for increasing the city’s appeal and vitality. This included drafting new policies regarding business and employment, methods for increasing the city’s appeal, and aims for culture, sports and events. The program was collaboratively drafted by the involved stakeholders in workshops, which Akordi planned and facilitated.
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Pioneers into Practice

Pioneers into Practice programme is part of a Europe wide EIT (European Institution of Innovation and Technology) Climate-KIC network. Its purpose is to give birth to new innovations, business and practices for building a more sustainable society. Climate change mitigation requires novel solutions…
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DAC – Dwellers in Agile Cities

Akordi was involved in DAC - Dwellers in Agile Cities research project to help support the project’s societal impact. DAC was funded by the Academy of Finland between 2016-2019, and it focused on the regular urban citizen as a driver of urban development and change. Akordi supported the researchers and stakeholders involved with the project to identify potential mechanisms for change linked to the project aims. Thanks to Akordi’s facilitation, research assignments and stakeholder interactions supported each other.
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Update of Vantaa master plan

Vantaa updated its local master plan, and Akordi supported the work in 2019. The plan covers future plans for construction, housing, services, recreation, and managing increasing amounts of traffic. Akordi facilitated events where Vantaa residents discussed the future of the city with city representatives. Akordi also consulted the master planning group on how to best organize stakeholder engagement and participation.
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No Net Loss City

Ecological compensations refer to measures that compensate the lost biodiversity in one location with at least equivalent biodiversity gains in another. The No Net Loss City project introduces the first model for ecological compensations for land use planning in municipalities. The model is tested and…
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Oulujoki watershed vision 2035

The Oulujoki river watershed is getting its own watershed vision to better integrate differing needs and interests in the region.  The Finnish Environment Institute leads the project titled “Vitality from the Kainuu Lakes to the Gulf of Bothnia - Oulujoki watershed vision 2035 (ARVOVESI)”, and the…
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Supporting infrastructure planning in ‘Highway 180 KURKELA-KUUSISTO’ project

Early 2021, ‘Highway 180 KURKELA-KUUSISTO’ project was launched with the aim to improve the highway’s connectivity and safety, and to aid the development of Kaarina’s urban structure and land use planning.
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Facilitating a Nordic cormorant working group

The great cormorant is protected under the EU Birds Directive. Because of this the population growth has been strong in the Baltic Sea region during the past few decades. Conflicts between cormorants and humans, with fishermen in particular, have occured. Management of cormorant populations is not only…
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SWOT analysis of Kokemäenjoki river Water Vision 2050

In summer 2022, Akordi carried out a SWOT analysis to identify the challenges and opportunities with the Kokemäenjoki river Water Vision. Kokemäenjoki river Water Vision 2050 is a common and holistic vision for a desired state of the Kokemäenjoki watershed in 2050. It considers the use of water…
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Iijoki River Visioning Process

A collaborative approach was used to build a shared vision for the future of the Iijoki water system. In addition to the restoration of the migratory fish stocks, the aim of the envisioning work was to address the water quality in the Iijoki basin, and to increase the attractiveness of the area for e.g. tourism and business. The Iijoki River Vision was published in 2018. The Advisory Board will continue to work on planning and prioritizing measures, and new projects, to increase the value of the river. This has already led to several projects improving the status of the river, including conservation and restoration projects.
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Facilitating stakeholder interaction in GOVERMAT research project

GOVERMAT project (2022-2025) focuses on the circular economy applications of critical raw minerals in electric mobility. Akordi is responsible for the project’s stakeholder workshop facilitation. GOVERMAT (2022-2025) is a project funded by the Academy of Finland, and it focuses on the circular economy…
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Building a Collaborative Platform for Reindeer Husbandry and Wind Power

How can we build fair common ground between reindeer herding and wind power projects? Since 2019, actors in the field have been learning from each other, building collaboration, and defining good practices hosted by Akordi, the Reindeer Herders’ Association, and Renewables Finland. Background The…
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Biodiversity offsetting as an operational tool for a just sustainability transition towards no net loss of ecosystems and biodiversity

There is unequivocal scientific consensus about the ongoing environmental crisis and a strong global political ambition to halt biodiversity loss. Still, we are systematically failing with national-level implementation: globally none of the Aichi biodiversity targets designed to stop biodiversity loss…
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