Google is facing growing criticism in Finland after more than 500 hectares of forest were cleared to make way for new data centers, with environmental assessments still unfinished when the work took place.<\/p>\n
The controversy concerns two sites in northern Finland, where approximately 330 hectares of forest have been cleared at Muhos and nearly 200 hectares at Kajaani. Both projects are part of Google's EUR 13 billion investment programme in Finnish data center infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Finnish authorities have ordered the company to halt further work that would significantly alter the sites, including logging, excavation and earthmoving.<\/p>\n
The intervention follows weeks of debate over the projects and whether Google complied with Finnish environmental legislation.<\/p>\n
Google faces questions over missing environmental assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n Under Finnish law, an environmental impact assessment is required when at least 200 hectares of forest are permanently cleared from a continuous area.<\/p>\n At Muhos, the area cleared exceeds that threshold by more than 100 hectares. Yet the environmental assessment had not been completed when the logging took place.<\/p>\n The distinction between ordinary commercial logging and clearing forest permanently for industrial construction has become central to the dispute.<\/p>\n Google has argued that the forestry work complied with Finland's Forestry Act. Finnish authorities, however, have questioned whether the company could proceed with such extensive land preparation before completing the environmental assessment process.<\/p>\n On 6 October, Finland's Licensing and Supervision Agency instructed Google's project company, Tuike Finland Oy, to stop activities that significantly change the environment at Muhos and Kajaani. The company was given until 23 October to comply.<\/p>\n The order covers further tree removal, excavation, soil stripping and road construction, although planning and other activities with limited environmental effects can continue.<\/p>\n Google's Finland chief apologises<\/strong><\/p>\n The controversy has also put Google's Finnish management under pressure.<\/p>\n In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat published on 13 October, country manager Antti J\u00e4rvinen apologised for the Muhos case but offered few details about what had gone wrong.<\/p>\n According to the newspaper, J\u00e4rvinen said he had been unaware of certain aspects of the situation and declined to answer two questions. He also rejected the suggestion that Google could have benefited from breaking the law, describing it as a ridiculous idea.<\/p>\n The company has acknowledged shortcomings in its handling of the projects but maintains that it acted in good faith.<\/p>\n Google has also announced plans to plant trees on approximately 130 hectares in Muhos.<\/p>\n Data center investments put Finnish forest land in focus<\/strong><\/p>\n The disputed logging is linked to Google's plans to expand its Finnish data center operations beyond its existing facility in Hamina.<\/p>\n The company's investment programme includes projects at Muhos, Kajaani and Vaala, bringing large-scale industrial development to areas traditionally dominated by forestry and other land uses.<\/p>\n Finland has become an attractive location for data center operators because of its electricity infrastructure, relatively cool climate and access to land. But the Google case has raised questions about the environmental consequences of these investments.<\/p>\n Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala has warned that the Muhos project could face delays because of the unresolved environmental assessment.<\/p>\n The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation has also criticised the clearing and called for closer scrutiny of data center developments.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Google is facing growing criticism in Finland after more than 500 hectares of forest were cleared to make way for new data centers, with environmental assessments still unfinished when the work took place.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n