General

 

Work to resolve nature conservation disputes in Gulf of Bothnia is progressing in a constructive spirit

While decades of mistrust remain in the background, the work has reached a stage where local stakeholders feel genuinely involved in defining and resolving key issues and providing the knowledge base for solutions. In the spring, Akordi drafted a proposal for a long-term solution to the dispute over…
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Juha Kotilainen

Dissertation: Local Community Benefit Agreements would bring multiple benefits to mineral management

Juha Kotilainen, an expert and associate in Akordi, was awarded a PhD from the University of Eastern Finland on 22 November 2024. The title of his dissertation is "Emerging forms of collaborative mineral governance – Analyzing preconditions for community benefit argeements in Finland". In his dissertation,…
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Kuvassa vaaranrinteiden välissä virtaava jokiAkordi

Akordi published a playbook for green transition operators – download the guide to use

Akordi has published a free playbook to support green transition actors. The main message is that conflicts are not to be avoided or won, they can be resolved together. Akordi's playbook focuses on the early stages of project development. It provides proven tools for thinking and doing that can…
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Lasse Peltonen puhuu yleisölle Vihreän siirtymän hyväksyttävyys -tilaisuudessa 7.11.2024

Event on 7.11.2024: Green transition will not be accepted at any cost

The local opposition to the green transition is not just about fear, but about the real impact of the projects on nature and on local residents and businesses. There may be values at stake that are so important that people are prepared to fight for them. Event on the acceptability of the Green Transition,…
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Kuvassa kouluttaja valkotaulun edessä ja koulutuksen osallistujat tuoleillaan.

Akordi’s training: How to anticipate and resolve conflicts in a green transition Project? – Sign up

In Akordi's training, you will learn how to build social acceptance at the local level by investing in early-stage interaction. In Finland, the green transition has strong social and political support and market uptake. This is reflected in increasing pressure at local level, where the need to coordinate…
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Comment: Henrik Wickström’s speech on the role of Elected Officers in Akordi’s event 20.8.2024

What is it like to deal with a large-scale green transition project in a small town, when the project is relevant both locally and for the whole of Finland? Local residents are hungry for information, and the company wants to move quickly. The municipality, on the other hand, is responsible for the…
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Training: Tools for Collaborative Governance – What can Finland learn from Oregon? 21.8.2024

Time: Wednesday 21.8.2024 at 10:00 am - 3:30 pm Place: Tieteen ja toivon talo, Puistokatu 4 (2. kerros), 00140 Helsinki   The training is fully booked. Please contact irina@akordi.fi for a place on the waiting list.   What is Collaborative Governance and why do we need it? …
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Recording: Elected Officials as Conveners – The Oregon Model 20.8.2024

Solving public problems often requires the bringing together of representatives from a range of interest groups, businesses, and governmental agencies. Who 'convenes' the various stakeholders, and how they do it can make the difference between failure and success. The National Policy Consensus Center…
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Irina Niinivaara

Irina Niinivaara appointed Chief Operating Officer of Akordi

Irina Niinivaara joined Akordi's team in the summer. As Chief Operating Officer, the baton will pass from Emma Luoma to Irina, and Emma will be able to deep dive into a more specialist role in environmental conflict mediation. Irina brings with her fifteen years of experience in responsible business…
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Learning from the Netherlands

In June, Akordi and its steering group visited the Netherlands to see how the green transition projects are being implemented. Participants in the tour were Henna Hakkarainen, Executive Director of the TAH Foundation, which funds Akordi's development work on proactive solutions to green transition conflicts,…
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The effectiveness and development of the Maritime Spatial Plan in Finland – Case: offshore wind energy in the exclusive economic zone

The study, commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment, examined the legal framework for the development of maritime spatial planning and mapped the views of authorities and stakeholders on the development needs of the planning. The rapidly changing context for maritime spatial planning was seen…
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Webinar recording: How to consider and compensate for the natural and social impacts of energy projects?

The growth of wind power has increased the need to understand the ecological impacts of energy projects and their effects on local communities and businesses. How to manage and compensate for the adverse impacts of projects is therefore a key question for the acceptability of energy transition. In Akordi’s…
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Akordi’s annual report for 2023

The Annual Report succinctly wraps up Akordi’s tenth year of operation in 2023. Download the report here, in Finnish: Akordi Oy vuosikertomus 2023
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A common vision for the future of the Gulf of Bothnia nature conservation dispute has emerged

Three months of discussions have resulted in a plan for a long-term solution to the differences over nature conservation in the Gulf of Bothnia. The plan is structured around three interlinked elements. One is the appointment of a working group to prepare the establishment of a nature reserve. The second…
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Recording: The speed of the Green Transition may be stalled by environmental conflicts, 19.3.2024

Reducing environmental regulation does not automatically streamline permitting processes, but can have the opposite effect. This is the conclusion of a legal study commissioned by Akordi. A number of legislative reforms based on the government's programme are currently being introduced to speed up…
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Environmental Conflict, Complexity, and Collaboration

Genevieve Allen is one of the stellar young professionals Akordi has had the privilege of working with recently. Akordi welcomed Genevieve as an intern in September 2023, and towards the end of the year she took on more responsibilities as a Communications Officer. Genevieve is fascinated by equitable,…
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Learning and Exchange Between the Netherlands and Finland: Eva Härter’s Internship and Thesis with Akordi

In Autumn 2023, for 4 months, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Akordi team as a research intern for my bachelor’s thesis. The Akordi Team welcomed me with open arms into their office in Helsinki and introduced me to their work in public policy mediation. Starting from scratch, knowing quite…
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Mentors of Akordi: Merrick Hoben and how he inspires us

As Akordi celebrates its tenth anniversary this December we’d like to pause and give thanks to our international colleagues for their support. Right at the time when Akordi was founded in 2013, our mentor Merrick Hoben, the director of the Washington office of the US Consensus Building Institute (CBI),…
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Developing a Collaborative Water Monitoring Platform with the Local Community and Mining Companies in Sodankylä

The impact of mining on local waterways is a pressing concern in Finland. Members of the local community may have difficulty understanding the results of water monitoring, interpreting their significance and practical implications. Previous research has found that measurements commissioned by mining…
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Wind Power Meets Reindeer Husbandry – Recognition as Basis for Just Energy Transition

On November 21st, 2023, Akordi released a new report examining the results of a collaborative process between wind power and reindeer herding. You can download the report here [In Finnish - English version to appear later] The transition to clean energy involves increasing usage of wind power and…
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Components for a Successful Watershed Visioning Process

The Iijoki River Watershed Vision was created through a multi-stage, multi-stakeholder negotiation process from 2015 to 2018. The lessons learned and experiences gained during this process remain relevant, as watershed visions increasingly attract interest as tools for harmonizing diverse needs and fostering…
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Akordi’s 10th Anniversary – A Picturesque Celebration

On Tuesday, September 12th, Akordi celebrated its 10th anniversary at the historical venue, Puistokatu 4. The festivities commenced with a breathtaking performance by the Maailma choir , followed by heartwarming speeches from Akordi’s long-time mentors, collaborative partners, dear friends, and team…
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How can Finland’s Food Transition become Sustainable and Fair?

Adapting agriculture to a changing environment requires major structural changes. The challenge is that there is often no consensus on solutions or even the root causes of the problem. Collaboration among stakeholders is critical to ensure that as many voices as possible are involved in shaping the solutions…
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Akordi’s Annual Report for the Year 2022 (In Finnish)

Akordi's Annual Report for the Year 2022 The annual report succinctly encapsulates Akordi Ltd's ninth operational year in 2022. Download the annual report here.
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