Estonian radio programme on Nord Stream 2

Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen appeared on a Russian language Estonian Radio 4 programme “Details” (Подробности), where he commented Nord Stream 2 issue from the Finnish perspective. In the programme titled “‘Nord Stream 2’ still causes heated debates” (“Северный поток-2” до сих пор вызывает жаркие споры) professor Tynkkynen said, that there still are political actors in Finland that support the pipeline project, but also there are those who are against.

Those that are supporting the project are emphasizing the economic development, but those that are against the project are touching upon the security issues. Finland has always tried not to politicize the questions of large energy flows. But we all of course understand very well, that if the ‘Nord Stream 2’ is built, that would mean the increase of dependence on Russia in gas supply area.

Indicators for digitalization of sustainable development goals in PEEX program

Geography, Environment, Sustainability journal published an article “Indicators for digitalization of sustainable development goals in PEEX program” written by Sergey N. Bobylev, Olga Yu.Chereshnya, Markku Kulmala, Hanna K. Lappalainen, Tuukka Petäjä, Svetlana V. Solov’eva, Vladimir S. Tikunov and Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen.

This article describes the Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) program and
indicators for monitoring of implementation and digitalization of Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) in Russia, especially environmental goals. The authors considered the
possibility of integration and identification of the methodological approaches of the
socio-economic research to environmental sciences. Paper gives insights into the
international framework of the United nations, addreses several relevant indicators to be
monitored in a Russian perspective and summarizes shortly the status of the monitoring
activities and provide an overview on the main tasks for the upcoming years to reach the
sustainable development goals established by the United Nations. The tasks to which
the Goals divided are considered in detail. The indicators of Russian statistics that can be
used to monitor the implementation of these tasks are determined. It is shown, that more
detailed regional analysis and new data is needed in order to quantify the feedbackloops.

The article is available online.

Russia’s Far North – The Contested Energy Frontier

On the Aleksanteri Institute website an article was published about the new book Russia’s Far North – The Contested Energy Frontier, published earlier this month and edited by professors Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, Shinichiro Tabata, Daria Gritsenko and Masanori Goto. This book is a final publication of the  “Russia’s final energy frontier – Sustainability challenges of the Russian Far North” Finnish-Japanese research project.

More information on the book and ordering details are available on the publisher’s website.

Ilta-Sanomat article

Read a new article titled “EU-jäsenmaat pohtivat vastatoimia – näin Venäjä voi yrittää vaikuttaa Suomen linjaan” (EU-member states are thinking of counter-measures – this is how Russia can try to influence Finland’s line) by Ilta-Sanomat, featuring Professor Tynkkynen’s comments:

“We in Europe and in the rest of the world want to rely on law, justice and democratic decision-making. Such measures are poison for unity. It is necessary to have a value discussion on how to respond to this.”

You can access the full article from the newspaper’s web-page.

New publication with Professor Tynkkynen’s comments

A group of researchers from the International Centre for Defense and Security published a new report “The Geopolitics of Power Grids: Political and Security Aspects of Baltic Synchronization”, for which Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was interviewed in June.

In the report the nature of the threat posed by Russia is considered and then it is assessed how resilient each of the two areas—and the synchronization links between them and the Baltics—would be in an environment in which there is persistent coercive and destabilizing pressure on the Baltics and their neighbors.

Read the full report here.

Article about the research group

Read an article introducing the research team and activities on the new website of the Aleksanteri Institute.

— I’m absolutely thrilled by the expertise and energy of these scholars, says Tynkkynen. The individual projects complement each other and new insights and ideas are constantly born.

Eventhough it may prove difficult to directly influence Russian energy and environmental policies via academic research, the outputs might help us to realistically predict and prepare for what lies in the future. Tynkkynen also reminds that the choices made in Finnish politics can send strong signals to Russian energy sector and political leaders.

— Even stronger effects could be achieved via the EU, notes Tynkkynen. So far Finland has not taken up the initiatives challenging the Russian hydrocarbon culture, but maybe we can change this.

Ilta-Sanomat article

Interview with the Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was published in Ilta-Sanomat’s article “Ex-pääministereiden Venäjä-kytkökset nousivat jälleen tapetille – ”On selvää, että Venäjällä on tahoja, jotka haluavat ostaa lobbausvoimaa Suomessa”” (Ex-prime ministers’ Russian affiliations came to light again – “It is clear that in Russia there are those who want to buy lobbying power in Finland”).

Read Professor Tynkkynen’s comments on the ties of Paavo Lipponen to Russia in relation to economic projects here.

Article in The Ulkopolitist

Our researcher Sanna Kopra together with Liisa Kauppila published a new article “Suomi ja Kiinan arktisen vallan anatomia: pehmeää, kovaa ja terävää?” (Finland and the anatomy of China’s Arctic power: soft, hard and sharp) in The Ulkopolitist.

China’s interests now extend to every corner of the world, even more to the open Arctic. The rising Great Power tries to influence the development of the Arctic by a multifaceted range of ways, including some of which Finland should be aware.

Read the full article here.

Aleksanteri Institute seminar on the challenges after Russian elections

Today at the Aleksanteri Institute a seminar “Haasteet Venäjän vaalien jälkeen” (Challenges after Russian elections) is held at 14:00, in Finnish.

Putin does not have a challenger in Russia. Opposition’s boycott can successfully challenge the legitimacy of power – if the turnout is too low, it would be a clear motion of no confidence. However, the biggest challenges for Putin’s current line will be non-opposition: the Russian economy, social and foreign policy issues and ever-increasing environmental problems call for a solution.

Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was one of the speakers and was talking about Russian energy and climate policy.

Read the articles about the seminar in Swedish at Hufvudstadsbladet web-page and Vasabladet web-page, in Finnish at Iltalehti.

 

MustRead article

New article on MustRead “Professori: Suomen voimakas riippuvuus Venäjän energiasta on tabu – TEM haluaa sulkea silmänsä riskiltä”  (Professor: Finland’s strong dependence on Russian energy is a taboo – Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment wants to close its eyes to the risk).

Almost half of all Finland’s energy comes from Russia. According to Professor Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, officials and parties do not even want to think about what kind of political leverage the situation gives to Russia. Riku Huttunen from the Ministry does not share researchers’ concern.

Read the full article here.