Meet 4 Finnish climate activists inspired by Ireland
In the heart of Helsinki, the Irish and Finish community are uniting over the fight for climate justice. Although hosting differing landscapes, both countries feel the effects of a growing climate crisis. Whether it be the snowy Finnish winters or the rising sea levels off Ireland’s coast, this is a battle both our nations are united on.
To mark this strong connection, the Embassy of Ireland in Helsinki hosted Finnish climate activists, who have been inspired by former Irish President Mary Robinson’s trailblazing leadership and tireless commitment to climate justice.
Ahead of a screening of the documentary ‘Mrs Robinson’, we hosted a panel discussion with the activists, who had much to say on the significance of women’s voices and perspectives in climate justice, cooperation across generations, and the importance of persistence and perseverance. This is known in Finland as Sisu, meaning strength of will and determination that sustains you through challenges.
The discussion, moderated by local Irish journalist Ronan Browne, also touched on important considerations specific to Finland including the increasing significance of the Arctic both from a climate perspective as well as a geopolitical standpoint. With panellists representing both youth groups and the Activism Grannies, the conversation also provided an interesting view on intergenerational collaboration and what different generations can learn from each other.
Anne Puolanne
Sustainability Manager at Audiovisual Producers Finland
Puolanne works as a Sustainability Manager at Audiovisual Producers Finland - APFI, leading the way for the Finnish film and TV industry to become more sustainable at all levels from practice to policies.
Puolanne has worked as a TV freelancer in addition to being one of the pioneers to bring up the green topic in Finland. She is the co-author of the nation’s first sustainability guidebook: ‘Ekosetti (2019)’. Puolanne holds a BA in Media & Arts (2012) and a BSc in Natural Resources (2020), and in 2025, she was appointed as an EU Climate Ambassador.
What does climate justice mean to you?
“Climate justice means that everyone has an equal right to live on this planet and has good life quality - people, animals, nature. Even though natural resources are divided differently, all countries should work together to share them equally.”
From your experience learning of Mary Robinson’s leadership, how do you think this will inform and influence your work leading on Climate Justice in Finland?
I hope I will be braver. I felt it was really inspiring to see how one person grew up to be something bigger than one person usually is. Mrs. Robinson gave me hope and I hope I can share hope, too.
What can Finnish Sisu teach us in Ireland and internationally about perseverance in the face of challenges?
“I feel Mrs Robinson has a lot of Sisu. I feel if you know your passion and you can stand behind it, it’s easy to take steps forward, but if (and when) there are challenges, it takes sisu not to stop.
I also feel it’s ”smart sisu” to understand when to stop or take a break - too much sisu is not good, either.”
How does social activism, in this case climate justice bring people together?
“When we’re talking about the future of all living things, it doesn’t matter what country you’re from.
If we want to have a livable earth in for the future generations of people, animals and nature, working together is the only possible way.”
Helena Kääriäinen
Founding member of Activist Grannies
Helena Kääriäinen is a grandmother of four children and one of the founding members of Activist Grannies, a network of Grannies (and Grandpas) who want to share their life experience and wisdom to help save our planet as a good place to live for our grandchildren.
The network was founded in 2019 by 12 members. Activist Grannies are very active on social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, where they have over 8000 followers.
Kääriäinen is a medical doctor (now retired), a specialist in medical genetics and an expert in rare diseases with high interest in ethical and social issues related to genetics. As a medical doctor, she is member of the Physicians for Climate-group.
What does climate justice mean to you?
“It means ensuring that we all, but especially people (also animals) who are not guilty for the climate crisis, can have a good life on this planet. This concerns above all children and young people as well as some indigenous groups of people.
It also means that the countries with highest consumption of natural sources should do much more than the poorer countries. At the national level it means, that we all but especially the wealthiest people should be strongly involved.”
How important is cooperation and collaboration across generations to you?
“In Finland, the very large retired population has a lot of power as we are the most actively voting age group, in all types of elections. It is important that we listen to the wishes of young generations and support their ideas. In addition, the fact that there is grandparental climate activism certainly gives hope to younger generations.”
How has campaigning for climate justice brought you closer to people?
“Being an Activist Granny has brought me many new friends and interesting contacts in Finland and abroad, both young and old. We are dealing with serious, threatening and even depressing issues but, at the same time, this collaboration with other activists gives a lot of support, hope and joy.”
What can Ireland learn from Finland about perseverance in the face of challenges?
“Finnish Sisu means that you shouldn’t easily give up. A good example is walking in thick snow: it is heavy but you must not give up. Actually I think that Mrs. Robinson is an excellent example of Sisu; I wonder if she has some Finnish ancestry?”
Petra Karjalainen
Co-Chair of the Finnish Agenda2030 Youth Group
Petra Karjalainen is the Co-Chair of the Finnish Agenda2030 Youth Group and she worked as the Vice-Chair of the National Commission on Sustainable Development in 2025. The Finnish Agenda2030 Youth Group works directly under the Prime Minister’s Office in Finland to help in the planning and implementation of the UN’s Agenda2030 program.
Karjalainen is also a Language Specialist (MA) with years of experience working for various environmental organisations and initiatives here in Finland.
What does climate justice mean to you?
“For me, climate justice is the basis of everything. Without a habitable and healthy planet, we will not be able to achieve anything else we would like to, both in the personal sense and as humankind. climate justice guides my way of life and I hope that one day it will guide our economies and political decision-making as well.”
How does social activism, in this case climate justice bring people together?
“Social activism brings together people to fight for a shared cause. In the case of climate justice, due to it being such a vast issue, I have met all kinds of people from all walks of life, and been greatly inspired by their stories.
These first-hand accounts of concrete outcomes of climate negligence have further fuelled the activist fire within me and motivated me to continue the fight. As we see from Mary Robinson and the other panellists, anyone can start the fight for climate justice from their own perspectives and be inspired and motivated by others within the same field.”
From your experience learning of Mary Robinson's leadership, how do you think this will inform and influence your work leading on climate justice in Finland?
“Mary Robinson is an amazing and ground-breaking woman in many ways. I admire greatly how she took up climate justice as one of her guiding principles due to her empathy for others. I think personally for me, it is so meaningful to be reminded in today’s world that empathy and care for others can truly lead to so many great things.”
How important is it for activism to include people from a variety of ages, groups and backgrounds?
Intergenerational cooperation within climate issues is key. The fact of the matter is, our current climate issues are stealing the futures of many young individuals and thus, young people hold these issues to their hearts.
On the other hand, a vast majority of the power to change our current world order and societal values, lies within the older generations. Climate issues do not discriminate based on age, gender, position or wealth and if we do not combat these issues together, no generation will benefit. No cooperation means no future for any of us.”
What does Finnish Sisu mean to you?
“For me, Sisu means the power to believe and endure even in the face of unfathomable obstacles. Sisu gives you faith and strength to follow through and this kind of perseverance especially on Climate Justice is important because we are dealing with such huge obstacles right now, that all we really have is the faith that one day our work will pay off.”
Ellen Haaslahti
Executive Director for Operaatio Arktis
Ellen Haaslahti is Executive Director for Operaatio Arktis to help update society’s climate strategies for the 2030s.
Operaatio Arktis is a State award-winning climate strategy agency that conducts science advocacy and communications with the support of different foundations. The team of ten young experts work between science and policy to implement comprehensive risk management for Earth System Tipping Points and secure a stable society and a thriving habitat for younger generations.
Haaslahti holds a Master’s degree in Social Science and wants to unravel the secrets of environmental and socio-technical change and an appealing narrative for the future. Her roots are in the environmental movement and in Pori.
What does climate justice mean to you?
“Climate justice captures why work to minimise climate risks – to prevent suffering and to secure thriving living conditions to all living beings.
Younger generations, Indigenous Peoples, the global majority and other species who have the most at stake need to be heard in order for us to succeed.”
How does social activism, in this case climate justice, bring people together?
“I believe that recognising joint interests instead of getting stuck in disagreements can allow us to strengthen ally-ships and achieve better outcomes in climate justice together.”
What can Finnish Sisu teach us in Ireland and internationally about perseverance in the face of challenges?
“I’m convinced by Mary Robinson that the Irish already know something about sisu – keeping your vision clear and finding the way to go towards it relentlessly.”
How important is cooperation and collaboration across generations to you?
“The cooperation across generations is one of the key factors that will determine the extent to which we are able to prevent suffering from climate impacts. Younger generations can push higher moral ambition and actionable ideas while the older generations can use their power to make climate justice reality.”