Google Data Center Construction Halted in Finland Over 300 Hectares of Deforestation Concerns

Finnish authorities have ordered construction work at two planned Google data centers to stop amid concerns that more than 300 hectares of forest have been cleared.

The sites are part of Google’s record €13bn (£11bn, $15bn) investment in Finland, announced less than a month ago. Google described the investment as its largest single investment in Europe.

Finnish authorities order work to stop

The Finnish Supervisory Board (LVV) said work at one of the sites had been carried out without a mandatory environmental impact assessment. It ordered work involving measures that “significantly alter the environment” to stop by October 23.

The order applies to preparatory work at the proposed data center sites in Muhoz and Kayani.

Tommi Muilu, LVV’s environmental director, said the work included removing trees and topsoil, building on-site roads and storage areas, and modifying ditches.

Google responds to environmental concerns

Google said it “did not meet our own high standards in this case” and would follow guidance from the authorities.

In a statement to the BBC, the company said: “We understand the concerns, but in this case we have not met our own high standards.”

Google said it had “acted in good faith in accordance with forestry laws”, conducted nature surveys and taken measures to protect areas of high environmental value.

Project support group given deadline

Tuike Finland, which supports Google’s data center project, has until October 14 to provide an explanation and outline how it will proceed. The agency said it may begin “enforcement proceedings” if the company does not comply with its demands.

Conservation groups criticize forest clearance

Hanna Halmenpaa, president of the Finnish Nature Conservation Association, previously told AFP news agency that “a natural site that should be preserved” had been cleared.

Conservation groups had previously called for work to be halted while environmental requirements were considered.