The Environmental Protection Act is leaking. Peat dispute as a struggle for recognition

Abstract

We investigated the long-standing peat dispute in Central Finland by conducting a survey and interviews to determine citizens' perceptions of peat extraction and its impact on water bodies. The analysis reveals that the political-administrative system has not been able to safeguard the purpose of the Environmental Protection Act to ensure a healthy and pleasant environment for citizens and to improve the opportunities of citizens to affect decision-making concerning the environment. This shortcoming is reflected in activities such as peat extraction, which causes diffuse pollution of water bodies. The sense of injustice arises from the following factors: (1) The authorities base the assessment of the status of waters on scientific and technical information and exclude conflicting information and public experience. (2) People affected by water pollution are not recognized as participants in the regulatory framework for peat extraction. (3) Citizens are affected by indifference on the part of public authorities and politicians towards people concerned about the state of waters. (4) The cultural and social values people attach to their environment are not considered relevant in the regulatory framework for peat extraction. The analysis of the peat dispute reveals the need to improve the functioning of deliberative democracy in environmental governance.