ympäristöperusteisuus

Ympäristöperusteisuus is a concept used in Finnish discourse to describe a decision-making approach that is grounded in environmental considerations. It refers to giving environmental criteria a central role in planning, policy development, and everyday actions, with attention to local ecological context, sustainability of resources, and long-term ecological impacts. The idea is to integrate environmental thinking into the evaluation of projects, programs, and services rather than treating environmental aspects as add-ons.

In practice, ympäristöperusteisuus can manifest in areas such as urban planning, public procurement, education, and research. It often involves applying methods like environmental impact assessment, life cycle thinking, energy efficiency requirements, and the use of locally sourced or low-emission materials. The approach aligns with broader concepts of sustainable development, green public procurement, and environmental justice, and it may be supported by national or EU-level guidelines and regulations.

Implementation challenges include balancing environmental goals with economic and social objectives, measuring environmental benefits, and addressing data gaps or administrative workload. Critics may point to the difficulty of quantifying environmental outcomes or avoiding trade-offs that could affect affordability or accessibility.

Examples of ympäristöperusteinen practice include city planning that preserves biodiversity and green space, procurement policies prioritizing low-carbon products, and curricula or research projects tailored to local environmental conditions. The term emphasizes that environmental considerations should form a foundational basis for judgments and actions.