Duties
Leading the unit. Sustainability transformations, environmental policy, safeguarding biodiversity, behavioral change for sustainability, science-policy-society dialogue, sustainable use of forests.
Subject area
Education and academic titles
Docent (environmental policy), University of Helsinki
PhD (environmental science and policy, University of Helsinki
Research and expertise
Riikka Paloniemi is a researcher and expert on the just sustainability transformations, the renewal of environmental and nature conservation policies as well as societal engagement and sustainability agency. In her inter and transdisciplinary research, Paloniemi emphasizes the importance of hope, systems thinking and social learning to tackle current major sustainability challenges together. Accordingly, she has increasingly participated in dialogue with policy and decision makers as well as other societal actors in national and European contexts. Paloniemi is the vice-chair of national forest bioeconomy science panel (metsatiedepaneeli.fi).
Recent scientific articles in English
- Oinonen, I., Seppälä, T., Paloniemi R. (2024) How does action competence explain young people’s sustainability action? Environmental Education Research.
- Tikkakoski P., Aulake M., Paloniemi R. (2024) Towards just transition: Tackling inequity and structural causes of vulnerability in key environment, health and climate related policies in Finland. Environmental science and policy, 156, 103736.
- Arola T., Aulake M., Ott A., Lindholm M., Kouvonen P., Virtanen P., Paloniemi R. (2023) The impacts of nature connectedness on children's well-being: Systematic literature review. Journal of Environmental Psychology (85): 101913.
- Lehtiniemi H., Aulake M., Paloniemi R., Huttunen S. (2023) Pulling biodiversity offsetting in different directions – Stakeholder frames in the preparation of the Finnish nature conservation act. Biological Conservation, 283, 11013.
- Koskela I.-M., Paloniemi R. (2022) Learning and agency for sustainability transformations: building on Bandura’s theory of human agency. Environmental Education Research.
- Rantala S., Swallow B., Lähteenmäki-Uutela A., Paloniemi R. (2022). Forest data governance as a reflection of forest governance: Institutional change and endurance in Finland and Canada. Environmental Science & Policy, 136: 751-760.
- Rekola A. Paloniemi R. (2022) Politics of knowledge use: epistemic governance in marine spatial planning. Environmental Policy and Planning.
- Karjalainen, L., E., Tiitu, M., Lyytimäki, J., Helminen, V., Tapio, P., Tuominen, A., Vasankari, T., Lehtimäki, J., Paloniemi, R. (2021). Going carless in different urban fabrics: socio-demographics of household car ownership. Transportation.
- Huttunen, S. Kaljonen M., Lonkila A., Rantala S., Rekola A., Paloniemi R. (2021) Pluralising agency to understand behaviour change in sustainability transitions. Energy Research & Social Science 76, 102067.
- Varumo L., Paloniemi R., Keleman E. (2020) Challenges and solutions in developing legitimate online participation for EU biodiversity and ecosystem services policies (academic.oup.com). Science and Public Policy, 47(4): 571-580.
Recent publications intended for professional communities in English
- Asikainen A., Paloniemi R. et al (2024) Messages from the Finnish Forest Bioeconomy Science Panel to the next European Commission 2024–2029. Metsäbiotalouden tiedepaneelin Suositukset ja kannanotot. (pdf)
- HERA consortium (2022) EU research agenda for the environment, climate & health 2021-2030.
- Kuusela S, Annala M, Forsblom L, Härkönen L H, Juslén A, Lehtimäki J, Paloniemi R, Pappila M, Primmer E, Ronkanen A-K, Schulman L, Tolonen K, Virkkala R, (2024). Stopping biodiversity loss makes sense. Syke Policy Brief.
- Paloniemi, R., Tiitu, M., Viinikka, A., Vikström, S., Furman, E. 2017. Promoting health through interaction with nature in urban areas. Syke Policy brief.