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Public Sector

Mikko Halonen

01.06.2020

Reconnect with nature – are you trying to be funny?

Reconnecting with nature sounds bizarre, tempting and yet contradictory – almost like fresh frozen, friendly fire….. . Aren´t we part of nature – how arrogant can we be, imagining that we would somehow be outside or above nature? But simultaneously, if my generation cannot find the “way back to the garden” as Joni Mitchell used to sing, and prevent our kids to get detached from the miracles of the nature from the start, I tell you we are heading for trouble.

Developing Markets

Gaia pressroom

12.09.2018

How to finance the SDGs, part 3: Build a bridge

So, here’s what have we learned so far: We have recognized the massive SDG funding gap. We know there are investors hunting for yield and hungry for impact. We also know there is an aid community fiercely working for a better and more equal world, simultaneously stunned by the fact that their efforts alone will not be enough. What do we need to bridge the gap?

Developing Markets

Gaia pressroom

30.08.2018

How to finance the SDGs, part 2: A hero in disguise

There is enough money in the world to achieve the SDGs. Not saying the aid community is powerless, we still need a new hero to achieve the SDGs. And guess what? We already have one. The challenge for the new hero is to put their money where their mouth is.

Developing Markets

Gaia pressroom

24.08.2018

How to finance the SDGs, part 1: Mind the gap

Achieving the SDGs and limiting the global warming to well below 2°C require enormous effort. More importantly, it requires a lot of money. In developing countries only, new investments worth 2.5 trillion USD are needed on an annual basis every year until 2030 to achieve the sustainable development goals. That is, on top of what is already invested. How could we close this funding gap?

General

Tuomas Raivio

08.03.2018

Gas vehicles and indoor parking – safe or not? (in Finnish)

Yleisimmin kaasuauto on tavallinen bensiinikäyttöinen auto, jossa on lisävarusteena kaksoispolttoainejärjestelmä ja tällöin yhteistoimintasädekin on jopa 1 500 kilometriä. Tankkausasemien verkosto myös kasvaa koko ajan. Kaasuautomalleja on jo tarjolla useita, ja käytännössä kaikkiin autoihin voi myös jälkiasentaa kaasusäiliön.

Developing Markets

Pasi Rinne

16.02.2018

New forms of funding would support the efforts of the Finns for developing circular economy (in Finnish)

Suomalaisten yritysten rooli kehityshankkeissa on herättänyt keskustelua (HS Talous 9.2.). On herätty siihen, ettei perinteisen kehitysyhteistyön supistuminen ja vähentyneiden tukirahojen kanavoituminen investointipohjaisiin malleihin ole enää uhka suomalaisten osallisuudelle kehitysmaita tukevissa hankkeissa. Se voi olla jopa mahdollisuus.

Cities and municipalities

Mari Hjelt

11.12.2017

Would you jump on a bus without a human driver?

Autonomous vehicles are coming. We already trust our lives to metro trains that run without a driver, and self-driving buses and cars will be the new normal in just a few years. In Gothenburg, ordinary people can already test self-driving cars in their everyday life on a city-wide basis.

ICT

Gaia pressroom

28.09.2017

The thriving marriage of digitalization and sustainability

I spent the last week in Singapore attending SLUSH Singapore and Digitalizing Maritime Business seminar by the City of Helsinki. The week was all about building bridges between Finnish and Singaporean companies. Finland and Singapore, although separated by nearly 10 000 kilometres, have many similarities.

Public Sector

Gaia pressroom

07.06.2017

Are we peaceful Vikings of global sustainability or lazy mice comfortably in a Nordic bubble?

The Nordic countries have recently made major joint statements and commitments to address some of the most pressing challenges humanity is facing in the 21st century. The Nordic countries have among other launched an initiative– Nordic Solutions to Global Challenges – as a tool in Nordic work to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

ICT

Gaia pressroom

06.06.2017

A Goldmine of Ideas on Reinventing Sustainable Business

Hackathons – design sprint-like events in which computer programmers and others involved in software development, including graphic designers, interface designers, project managers, and others, often including subject-matter-experts, collaborate intensively on software projects, as aptly described by Wikipedia – seem to be taking the Finnish industry by a storm. Companies such as YIT, KONE, Konecranes, Stora Enso, as well as many public sector institutions have in recent years discovered this novel way of inviting people outside of their organization to help reinvent their operations and get outside-of-the-box ideas.

Energy

Pasi Rinne

13.02.2017

Sähkön tehomarkkinan tarve on syytä selvittää (in Finnish)

Euroopan komissio julkaisi marraskuun lopussa mittavan ”energian talvipaketin”. Tammikuussa Ruotsin Energiekommissionen linjasi puolestaan maan energiatavoitteita aina vuoteen 2040 asti. Molemmat raportit nostavat keskeisinä teemoina esille energiamarkkinoiden toimivuuden "energy only" -periaatteella.

Industry & Technology

Pasi Rinne

03.02.2017

Dialogue is the key for preventing environmental conflicts (in Finnish)

Luonnonvarojen hyödyntämiseen liittyvät ristiriidat voivat pahimmillaan kärjistyä konflikteiksi. Konflikteja voi syntyä esimerkiksi maankäyttöön, metsävarojen hyödyntämiseen, kalastukseen, kaivosteollisuuteen, tuulivoimaan tai kaupunkisuunnitteluun liittyvissä hankkeissa.

General

Päivi Luoma

13.10.2016

Finnish water know-how raises interest on the U.S. West Coast (in Finnish)

Veteen liittyvien ratkaisujen kysyntä kasvaa voimakkaasti globaaleilla markkinoilla. Veden niukkuus ja kilpailu rajallisista resursseista ovat antamassa tilaa uusien innovaatioiden ja liiketoiminnan kehittämiselle ja kaupallistamiselle. Vastaavat tarpeet ovat kaikilla markkinoilla, mutta Yhdysvaltain länsirannikolla ne ovat veden niukkuudesta ja yritysten edelläkävijyydestä johtuen erityisen ajankohtaisia. Länsirannikon vesimarkkinat ovat monia muita markkinoita innovaatiovetoisempia.

Energy

Gaia pressroom

31.08.2016

Households can reduce emissions – Energy and climate policy must address these opportunities (in Finnish)

Energiamarkkinat muovautuvat uusien teknologioiden ja toimintamallien kehityksen kautta. Jo nyt kotitaloudet voivat olla muutakin kuin pelkästään sähkön kuluttajia.

Financial Services

Gaia pressroom

14.03.2016

Climate change is a key investment risk

The global transition to a low carbon economy is changing the investment scene. Responsible investors recognise climate change as a key risk.

Industry & Technology

Pasi Rinne

10.11.2015

The Arctic: The tipping point where business opportunities meet vulnerable nature

It is in the Arctic where soft law meets geopolitics, environmental change meets indigenous cultures, and business opportunities and potential access to natural reserves meet extremely vulnerable nature. The enormous opportunities and risks are further complicated by the fact that even if we fight to save the Arctic, the melting ice in the Arctic Sea may not save us. Uncertainty is at the heart of discussions about human activities in the Arctic.

Consumer Good & Services

Gaia pressroom

15.09.2015

Small can be big when it comes to responsibility

Responsible business is a necessity for any company that wants to be a forerunner. Responsibility is worth reporting, and it is useful to partner with experts when compiling such reports.

General

Pasi Rinne

30.06.2015

Flexible working through telecommuting –A solution for a better world?

Telecommuting and flexible work could improve corporate productivity, keep employees happy, and cut costs and carbon emissions.

Industry & Technology

Päivi Luoma

22.05.2015

Team Arctic promotion power builds on Finnish competence

Team Arctic Finland has been a highly powerful and credible brand in creating global interest in Finnish Arctic competence. It has opened doors to high-level decision makers in key companies operating in the Arctic. Still, strong development and promotion investments are required to give Finnish companies a credible business position.

General

Gaia pressroom

20.04.2015

Everyone wins with resource efficiency (in Finnish)

Resurssitehokkuus on numeropeliä. Yhden prosentin hukka voi tuntua pieneltä, mutta kun sen suhteuttaa kokonaistuotantolukuihin ja materiaalikustannuksiin, voi katteesta kadota merkittävä osa.

General

Gaia pressroom

23.04.2014

Attitude change is cheaper than law and punishment (in Finnish)

Biojätteen kierrätys on suurelta osin asennekysymys. Ketään ei voida pakottaa kierrättämään, mutta toisaalta pakko saattaa olla ainoa keino taata biojätteiden oikeanlainen kierto.

Developing Markets

Gaia pressroom

10.08.2012

Carbon footprint: new challenges and opportunities for the business sector – Huella de carbono: nuevos desafios y oportunidades para el sector empresarial

Climate change is doing what many ideologies have failed to do: changing our development models. It is making us reconsider the economic growth and development paradigms which for a long time have accompanied our everyday lives.

Industry & Technology

Gaia pressroom

03.04.2012

Responsibility of mining – complex, challenging, and no shortcuts

Mining is a growing business in Finland. We are not alone. Increasing global demand for metals and minerals is creating opportunities and positive societal effects, such as stimulating the economy and employment. However, mining inevitably has environmental and social impacts. How can they be managed and maintained at an acceptable level? The evident solution is adopting an integrated approach to corporate responsibility.

Public Sector

Gaia pressroom

02.02.2012

A Time for ‘Thought Leadership’ on Sustainable Development

My favourite definition of sustainable development is “living on the Earth as if we intended to stay”. This neatly implies that we need a kind of development that benefits everyone both now and in the future. As such, it must be equitable and effective but also friendly to the ecosystems and biodiversity that give us food and water, security and satisfaction.

Energy

Gaia pressroom

17.11.2009

Moving for change! (in Finnish)

Tiedätkö asuntosi energialuokan? Entä hiilijalanjäljen? Minä en, vaikka tiedostankin ilmastonmuutoksen tuomat haasteet ja toiminnan tarpeen. Uutta asuntoa etsiessä on mahdollisuus vaikuttaa – siksi asuntoilmoituksiin on saatava tietoa myös ilmastovaikutuksista.

General

Juan Gollan

02.09.2009

Distance work offers great benefits – and requires careful planning

Working patterns are changing. Strive towards higher productivity, effectiveness and profits coupled with technological development, digitalisation and globalisation are creating a new momentum for distance work. Working on line from airports, clients’ office, home or holiday houses is a reality in many parts of the world.

Energy

Iivo Vehviläinen

24.04.2009

Finland must strive towards becoming the leading energy efficiency country (In Finnish)

Kun Suomessa kauhistellaan ilmastonmuutoksen torjunnan kuluja ja Euroopan unionin ohjausta, monet maat rynnistävät jo energiatehokkuuden markkinoille. Ruotsalaiset lämpöpumput valtaavat Suomenkin markkinoita. Tanskalaiset ajelevat pian kovaa kyytiä maailmankartalle sähköautoillaan. Brittiläiset yritykset vaativat hallitukseltaan ripeämpiä toimia ilmastonmuutoksen hillitsemiseksi. Haluaako Suomi olla mukana laatimassa energiatehokkuuden tiekarttoja?