Browsing by study line "Globaali kestävyys"

A systemic change in the current modes of production and consumption, a so-called sustainability transition, is required to overcome large-scale society-transforming phenomena such as the climate change. This in turn demands changes in socio-technical systems, i.e., the networks of actors, institutions, technologies, material artefacts, and knowledge creation. In this thesis, the Finnish construction and housing sector is used as a case study, and an example of one socio-technical system. By focusing on the socio aspect of the socio-technical, I analyse how actors who are involved in the current system may inhibit or enable a sustainability transition. I seek to answer the following questions: what the relevant definitions of and foci for climate-wise action are among stakeholders in the sector in Finland; how actor-related barriers manifest themselves; and which actors could enable or speed up the transition. This thesis builds on sustainability transition theories, especially multi-level perspective and strategic niche management, to better understand actor roles and relationships. Based on a literature review, I define three actor-related barriers to transition (misaligned vision and focus, small network, and pro-regime actor resistance) and one potential enabler (intermediaries). These are then applied to the Finnish context. In this thesis, I employed stakeholder analysis as the methodology, interviewing a pre-defined set of 21 stakeholders. The results were analysed using content and social network analyses. The results suggest that although the understanding of climate-wise construction and housing is gaining a more holistic perspective, the three barriers all still manifest in the sector in Finland: all the stakeholders are engaged in energy-related topics, but hold differing foci on household choices, low-carbon materials and circularity; the network amongst actors seems relatively dense and inclusive, but improvement points emerge with closer examination; although results suggest that development has happened in the recent years, industries and incumbents are still considered too slow-moving. The importance of intermediation is also recognised by many but defining and picking potential intermediaries out of the crowd is a complex task. Overall, the sector may be moving forward in the transition, but the stakeholders create and uphold both barriers and opportunities in the process.

A common understanding of partnership goals is widely acknowledged to be one of the most crucial factors of a partnership project’s success. This thesis examines a partnership between the city of Espoo and five company partners and looks for processes and conditions that support a common understanding of the project goals. The aim is to support future sustainability-partnerships by giving managers concrete tools for facilitating goal-alignment by answering the research question “how did the partners accept and adapt to a common sustainability goal?” The data consists of interviews conducted with the project employees from both the city and the private entities, the project contract and web communications published by the partners. The data was analyzed using theme categories derived from the literature, seeking to first find the answer of whether the official partnership goal was adopted an accepted by the partners, and then comparing those observations to the experiences that partners had had working in the collaboration. It seems that the project goal was adopted and accepted in this case, and based on the findings five key mechanisms for how that was achieved and what future managers can therefore consider were recognized: 1) the organizational goals of the partner organizations were sufficiently compatible with the partnership goal, 2) the partnership goal was broad enough to leave room for later adjustments, 3) the partners were further divided into smaller sub-tasks with supporting sub-goals, 4) there was a lot of mandatory group-work and 5) all of the above-mentioned features were taken into account already in the design-phase of the partnership, and programmed into the day-to-day activities of the collaboration.

The production and consumption of foodstuffs has a strong impact on climate change, and vice versa. Agriculture and the food industry are responsible for over 25% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, food choices are a significant way in which individuals can influence greenhouse gas emissions. By comprehensively changing one’s food consuming habits to align with the principles of sustainability, an individual can decrease the climate impact of their total consumption by approximately ten percent. Sustainable habits, such as food consumption, are part of wider social and cultural processes. Therefore, in research relating to food consumption, it is important to consider both the background of the research participants and the community and society in which they live. Through food choices, an individual expresses their identity, status, and belonging in the community. Eating is a social event that is affected by the values and attitudes of the surrounding community and society. These things strongly influence an individual’s food choices, but on the other hand, individuals can also reshape the attitudes and values of their community through their choices. In order to advance sustainable food decisions on a societal level, it is important to examine what factors influence people’s consuming and eating habits. There has been a considerable amount of research done on sustainable foods, but the research focus has not often been on aware consumers. Studying aware consumers provides information about which factors hinder the making of sustainable decisions when the obstacle is not a lack of awareness. As more is known about the reasons behind people’s food choices, it becomes possible to consider new methods for getting people to make more sustainable choices. The students of the Environmental Change and Global Sustainability program at the University of Helsinki are interesting subjects of research, because they presumably are aware of and interested in the impacts of their food choices. Therefore, in studying them it is possible to focus on other factors determining their food choices, rather than obstacles related to a lack of awareness. In addition, Helsinki as a study location offers good possibilities for making sustainable choices, because there is a diverse supply of sustainable foods in the urban centre. In this master’s thesis, I aim to answer the question: What kinds of perceptions of a sustainable diet do the students of the University of Helsinki program of Environmental Change and Global Sustainability have and what kinds of obstacles do they face when making sustainable food choices? My study is a qualitative case study. I gathered the research material by conducting semi-structured theme interviews with eight students. I analyzed the material by employing thematic analysis methods. My study indicates that the students found it most difficult to follow a totally plant-based diet, even though they consider it to be a sustainable choice. Choosing plant-based food was challenging for them especially in certain social situations. These included situations in which the students felt pressured into eating animal-based food, or situations in which they wanted to please another person by eating the animal-based food they were offering. In such situations, the students were inclined to make choices that differ from those they make in their everyday lives. In social situations that involve food and eating, people have a human need to indicate a sense of community and respect towards people important to them. The students I studied have a lot of knowledge and awareness of the sustainability impacts of their food choices. However, my study indicates that in some situations the need for social cohesion is more important than the need to make a sustainable food choice. The social meaning of eating is important to take into account when considering how to get people to make more sustainable food choices.

Behavior change can be seen as one cornerstone in transiting to more sustainable energy cultures. Various implemented behavioral intervention experiments have been popular and successful in creating behavioral change during and/or right after the intervention period, however follow-up research examining the persistence of changed behavior has been limited. The empirical material of this thesis builds on a set of data collected in a European research project ENERGISE. The analysis utilizes the data collected from two Finnish living lab experiments performed in 2018, focusing the examination on the closing interviews conducted by the research team and the participants’ self-reported practices in the follow-up survey three months after the intervention. The analysis examines the formation of new practices in relation to their persistence in everyday life. Answers to open questions presented in the follow-up survey are also examined in the analysis, to fuller the representation of events. The sample of the research is not enough to make comprehensive statistical generalizations, instead it gives interesting insight on the durability of the effects of one energy intervention. The research questions guiding this thesis are: How did household practices change when households participated in an intervention? How persistent are the observed changes in practices post-intervention? What contributes to the persistence of treatment effects? This examination observed persistence of behavioral change post-intervention. This examination suggests that these encouraging results may be supported by a number of different factors; the broad perspective of energy practices that the intervention designed on practice theory provided and the making of household routines visible to participants to question and experiment with. In addition, the intervention techniques used as making commitments, goal setting, social comparison elements and providing energy feedback, which corroborate with prior intervention follow-up studies that have noted the importance of a carefully thought intervention design with these techniques, to support creating permanent behavioral change. Intervention designs should also in-clude a longer-term evaluation and further study investigating the factors contributing to creating permanent change should be implemented.

Forest fires are a growing issue of concern because of climate change. Forest fires impact forest ecosystems partially or completely and can cause negative and positive consequences. Negative consequences include, for instance, carbon release, and positive consequences include, for instance, increase in biodiversity. Forest fires are prevented by various measures, among which there are those targeted at human behavior. The aim of this thesis is to research current forest fire prevention strategies of Finnish national parks, find gaps and problems, and suggest possible solutions. The thesis focuses on the five largest Finnish national parks ac- cording to the number of visits, because the parks can demonstrate examples of education and modification of people’s behavior. The focus is on human behavior because the majority of forest fires are human-caused. The research questions of the thesis are: 1) “What are the behavior-oriented forest fire prevention measures in Finnish national parks?” and 2) “What are the problems of the current prevention measures?” The data of this study was collected via semi-structured interviews with national parks' workers who have knowledge about the topic. This method was chosen because interviewees can provide explanations and case examples. Five interviews were done via Zoom or Teams, while two responses were received via email. The content analysis of the data was performed in qualitative data analysis software ATLAS.ti. The theoretical frame- work of the thesis is risk governance and, more precisely, risk management and communication. In addition, the framework includes prevention practices identified in previous research. Behavior-oriented forest fire prevention measures identified in this thesis classify as risk management and risk communication. Risk management includes construction and maintenance of safe facilities, forbidding unsafe campfire ignition methods, and regulations mentioned online and on-site. Risk communication, in turn, includes safety instructions, wildfire warnings, organized activities, promotion of visits without campfires, nudge, and verbal advice. The problems related to the measures are making campfires when and where it is forbidden, irresponsible behavior in the context of ashes and rubbish, and leaving fires unattended. In addition, problems are related to how and where forest fire safety information is provided. The knowledge and findings of this study can be used to improve current forest fire prevention measures. Possible solutions include delivering explanations of measures’ reasons to visitors, highlighting the urgency of a problem, and organizing more educational group activities.

Luonnon monimuotoisuus on vähentynyt dramaattisesti ihmisten toimien seurauksena, mikä on herättänyt tarpeen ymmärtää paremmin ihmisen ja biodiversiteetin välistä vuorovaikutusta. Tutkimusnäyttö luonnon terveys- ja hyvinvointivaikutuksista on vahvaa, mutta biodiversiteetin roolia näiden vaikutusten taustalla ymmärretään edelleen melko huonosti. Tämä maisterintutkielma tarkastelee koetun biodiversiteetin ja hyvinvoinnin välistä yhteyttä ja pyrkii selvittämään: 1) miten kaupunkimetsän kävijät havainnoivat luonnon monimuotoisuuden eri osa-alueita ja 2) miten luonnon monimuotoisuuden eri osa-alueet vaikuttavat kävijöiden koettuun hyvinvointiin? Luonnon monimuotoisuuden eri osa-alueet viittaavat biodiversiteetin havaittaviin ominaisuuksiin. Tässä tutkielmassa sovelletut biodiversiteetin osa-alueet ovat lajien kohtaaminen, määrä ja monipuolisuus, lajien väliset suhteet, ekologiset prosessit, luonnon äänet, värit, muodot, tekstuurit, hajut/tuoksut sekä vuodenaikojen muutokset. Tutkielman aineisto kerättiin Lahden terveysmetsän kävijöiltä (n=12) kahden retken aikana. Molemmilla retkillä kierrettiin oppaan johdolla 3,4 kilometrin mittainen luontopolku. Tutkielma toteutettiin monimenetelmätutkimuksena, johon kuului teemahaastatteluja sekä BIO-WELL kyselymittaristo. Laadullinen aineisto oli tutkielmassa pääosassa. Terveysmetsän kävijät kiinnittivät vaivattomasti huomiota ääniin, väreihin ja vahvoihin tuoksuihin, kun taas prosessien, tekstuurien ja muotojen huomioiminen vaati enemmän keskittymistä. Tulosten mukaan moniaistinen kokemus luonnon monimuotoisuudesta on keskeistä metsän elvyttävyydelle ja potentiaalille vähentää stressiä. Prosessit, vuodenaikojen muutokset ja tekstuurit ovat taas tärkeitä henkisen hyvinvoinnin kokemukselle. Monimuotoinen luonto voi parantaa hyvinvointia kokonaisvaltaisesti, joten monimuotoisuutta vaalimalla sekä turvaamalla pääsy monimuotoiseen luontoon voidaan tukea sekä biodiversiteetin suojelua että kaupunkilaisten hyvinvointia. Hajujen ja tuoksujen vaikutuksia psyykkiseen hyvinvointiin sekä biodiversiteetin vaikutuksia sosiaaliseen hyvinvointiin olisi syytä tutkia tarkemmin, sillä näitä on toistaiseksi tutkittu melko vähän.

Biodiversity is essential for human wellbeing and activities as it supports a diverse set of ecosystem services. Currently, biodiversity is rapidly declining. Biodiversity loss is the second significant global risk after climate change. To reduce environmental stress, there is a need to find sustainable alternatives to unsustainable raw materials and consumables. The chemical industry has an important role in developing environmentally friendly solutions such as bio- based products and solutions, which require utilization of biomass. However, extraction of bio- based raw materials creates more pressure on biodiversity and contributes to biodiversity loss. It is essential that companies who extract natural resources are transparent about their actions concerning biodiversity. By adequately sharing information in corporate reports, companies can enhance their legitimacy. This thesis contributes to scientific discussion on biodiversity reporting which is researched to a limited extent. Material of the thesis was collected from corporate reports and interviews with globally operating chemical companies. By using qualitative content analysis, this thesis describes how chemical companies report on biodiversity as part of their corporate reporting to maintain their legitimacy and how biodiversity is perceived within the chemical industry. Biodiversity is a complex concept and intangible system, which cannot be sufficiently measured yet. This may help to explain why biodiversity reporting within the chemical industry is varying and inconsistent. There is a need to improve companies’ understanding on biodiversity to enhance biodiversity reporting. Adequate reporting can help to understand complex natural processes, enhance environmental protection, and reduce the problem of greenwashing.

During the time of ecological crisis, it is important to find new approaches on how to produce welfare within planetary and ecological boundaries. Besides focusing on technical and societal changes I state in this thesis that there is a need for focus on human’s spiritual side to solve wide sustainability issues. Immaterial welfare is highlighted with people who are practicing spirituality, in this case meditation with Buddhist background. Enhancing immaterial welfare is important in the world in which overconsumption is dwindling biodiversity and planetary resources. In this master’s thesis I discuss how acknowledging peoples’ inner worlds is an essential part of holistic sustainability transition towards sustainable welfare and society. According to previous research spiritual practices such as meditation and mindfulness can support sustainable behaviour in many ways. People practicing meditation with Buddhist background try to live in a way that reduces their own suffering and suffering of living beings around them. When living in a mindful state it may be easier to make daily choices that are aligning with one’s values. Those who practice meditation may feel stronger connection to nature which can foster ecological behaviour. In this thesis I conducted nine interviews with nine meditation practitioners who are regularly practicing meditation with Buddhist background. I focused on their lifestyle that takes environmental aspects into account and how do they perceive that the meditation practice helps them to live in sustainable way. Central questions in the interviews included connectedness to nature, values and adapting and reacting to ecological crisis. I analysed the interviews using content-guiding theory analysis reflecting previous research. Meditation itself does not transform one to become more environmentally friendly but it can for example help to live by own values. Buddhist philosophy and spiritual lessons based in Buddhism play important roles in the meditation practices of the people I interviewed. Those lessons can motivate them to act respectfully towards all kinds of living beings and reduce their suffering. The people in this study live out environmentally friendly lifestyle in multiple ways. The interviewees highlighted many immaterial factors in their wellbeing from relationships to being in silence. In addition, spiritual practice can support them with difficult emotions that can arise from the news about the environment and climate. Altogether the sustainability science could benefit from considering human’s spiritual sides and the lost connection to self and the surrounding world.

The heating season 2022–2023 was exceptional in Finland due to the electricity crisis. Electricity saving became a hot topic in public discussion, and households reduced their electricity consumption significantly. This study focuses on the changes that happened in detached house dwellers’ everyday routines: how detached house dwellers’ electricity consumption-related practices changed, and why they changed during the electricity crisis. Understanding how changes happen in electricity consumption-related practices is especially important in the ongoing era of the energy transition. The study is situated within social scientific energy research and the theoretical framework is based on the theories of practice. The study draws on six in-depth interviews of Finnish detached house dwellers living in the Helsinki metropolitan area or the Uusimaa region. The interviews focused on changes in detached house dwellers’ electricity consumption-related practices during the electricity crisis. The results of the study indicate that some practices are more flexible than others. The interviewed households controlled and replaced the material elements of some practices, especially heating devices of indoor spaces and household water. A new practice of monitoring electricity prices was adopted by households with spot-price electricity contracts, who also time-shifted some of their practices based on the price. The interviewed households focused especially on reducing electricity consumption which they considered ‘extra’ consumption. Some of the households also challenged some comfort-related norms and conventional ways of conducting certain practices. Electricity price was stated as the primary reason to change electricity consumption-related practices. Some of the interviewees also mentioned recommendations for saving electricity impacting their practices. It is interpreted that new meanings of scarcity were attached to electricity during the crisis. Electricity became a more visible element of practices, which led the interviewed households to reflect on their electricity consumption on a general level

This thesis is a case study that examines the reasons for the lack of citizen participation in the planning process of Kalasataman keskus, and, more generally, in the planning of megaprojects. The main observation of this thesis is that there are several reasons for this. Based on the interviews of main characters taking part in the planning of Kalasataman keskus and the planning documents of Kalasataman keskus (as well as the previous research on the topic) the reasons for lack of citizen participation were: the location of planning area with few inhabitants, the large size of the planning project, technical difficulty of the planning project, the weight on the commercial aspects of the planning, and the view of the planners (relying on experts in the planning). When these results were viewed together with the previous research, it was noted that, as the previous research suggests, the traditional practices of urban planning hinder citizen participation in planning. (For example, seeing that urban planning relies on the technical knowledge of experts.) Moreover, based on the findings of the thesis as well as the previous research, it is possible to see that when the tradition, which emphasizes expert knowledge, is paired with a planning project where the city has a commercial partner, the structures and procedures of planning tend to exclude citizens’ views from the planning process. Partly based on such findings, the thesis suggests that, if the intention is to strengthen citizen participation in, especially large, planning projects, the city should aim to strengthen, for example, local community organizations.