Role of water cooperatives in sustainable development and green transition in Finland

Abstract

The research is a part of the Horizons Europe research project Sustainable Horizons, where each partner in six European countries contributes by own local Sustainability Co-Creation Model to common one. The model development takes place between higher education institutions (HEIs) and their non-academic local partners with the sustainability approach. The local context and of the real-life providers in Finland are water management co-operatives in rural areas, locating in Päijät-Häme region in Southern Finland. The aim of this study is to assess the sustainability challenges facing rural water services in a Finnish region, with a focus on the role of water management in the transition to a green economy. The mixed methodology, where quantitative and qualitative data is combined, was chosen. The data collection from 19 co-operatives took place in spring 2024. The paper explores a water cooperative perspective on the three pillars of the sustainability in the regional context. It assesses co-operatives’ ability to implement more advanced forms of environmental management and sustainable development and their role in green transition. The results will contribute to Sustainability Co-Creation Model and will shed light co-operatives’ possibilities to contribute for the regional development.