Finland orders halt to work on two Google data centres

Finnish authorities have ordered a stop to construction at two proposed Google data‑centre sites due to extensive deforestation of over 300 hectares of forest.

These locations form a core component of Google’s €13 billion (approximately £11 million or $15 billion) investment in Finland, announced less than a month ago, now deemed the company’s largest solo European undertaking.

The Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV) indicated that work at one venue was performed lacking a mandatory environmental impact assessment and ordered any interventions that would substantially alter the landscape to be paused by 23 October.

Google responded that it “has fallen short of its own high standards” and will adhere to LVV’s guidance.

The mandated actions concern preliminary works undertaken at the planned sites in Muhos and Kajaani.

According to LVV’s head of environment Tommi Muilu, activities encompassed tree and topsoil removal, road and storage facility construction, and alterations to drainage ditches.

Tuik​e Finland, the developer behind Google’s data‑centre initiatives, has been tasked with explaining its rationale and proposing a remedial plan by 14 October; failure to comply could trigger enforcement proceedings.

Chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation Hanna Halmeenpaa previously informed Reuters that protected nature sites have been felled, prompting the group to call for a construction pause pending ecological reviews.

In a BBC statement, Google affirmed awareness of the issues and admitted breach of its internal standards.

“It acted in good faith under the Forestry Act,” the company added, noting it completed environmental surveys and instituted protections for high‑value habitats.

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