Natur og Samfunn
Gunnar Kristiansen
Seniorrådgiver, naturmiljø
Biodiversity, Nature & Restoration · Planning, Impact Assessment & Permitting
Customer need
Navigate environmental planning and permitting
A new facility, an energy project or a change to an operation needs approval. We prepare impact assessments and permit applications, lead consultation and authority dialogue, and give regulatory advice from early planning to a decision.
Typical questions
Questions we help answer
- Which permits and assessments are required?
- What evidence do we need, and when?
- How do we handle consultation and authority dialogue?
- What conditions are likely, and how do we plan for them?
What this covers
Planning, Impact Assessment & Permitting
- Integrated impact assessmentEnvimaNatur og SamfunnEtha
- Permit strategyEnvimaEthaNatur og Samfunn
- Permit applications and changesEnvimaNatur og SamfunnEtha
- Stakeholder engagementEthaWestberg
- Authority dialogueEnvimaNatur og SamfunnEtha
- Permit-condition planning
- Project land-access coordinationEtha
Air, Noise, Vibration & Odour
- Air-quality and exposure assessment
- Air emissions and dispersion
- Odour and nuisance assessment
Ground, Hydrogeology & Water
- Receiving-water and discharge impactsNatur og SamfunnEnvima
- Environmental water-treatment requirements
20 services
Services, by company
Envima · Sweden2 services
Westberg · Sweden2 services
Project management for surroundings
Full responsibility for the surroundings during ground works, including control programmes and documents for the building permit.
WestbergSwedenRisk analysis
Before blasting or piling, sets vibration and air-overpressure limits, measuring points and inspection scope (SS 460 48 66, SS 02 52 11).
WestbergSwedenNatur og Samfunn · Norway6 services
Impact assessments
Impact assessments for zoning plans (roads, rail, wind, quarries, landfills, housing) using the V712 method.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayNature mapping
NiN baseline mapping, threatened-species surveys, species monitoring, mitigation and management plans.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayFish surveys
Electrofishing, survey nets, juvenile salmon and trout, freshwater pearl mussel.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayWildlife monitoring
Before-and-after surveys of wildlife and birds for roads and wind farms.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayBREEAM Ecology
Support through auditor approval for credits LE2, LE4 and LE5.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayRenewable energy licensing
Licence applications, impact assessments and build-phase advice for wind and hydropower.
Natur og SamfunnNorwayEtha · Finland10 services
Project development
From idea to ready-to-build, including land studies, EIA, land-use planning, permits to building permit, stakeholders and investor search.
EthaFinlandRepowering advisory
Advice on repowering existing wind and solar assets.
EthaFinlandDecommissioning services
Dismantling plans, permits, recycling of components and site restoration.
EthaFinlandLayout and environment
Layout optimisation plus noise, shadow flicker, photomontage, visual impact, bird collision and glare studies.
EthaFinlandHybridisation services
Sizing wind or solar with battery storage.
EthaFinlandEnergy storage (BESS) development
Development of battery energy storage projects.
EthaFinlandOffshore wind development (with partners)
Offshore wind development in cooperation with partners.
EthaFinlandHydrogen project development
Development of hydrogen production projects.
EthaFinlandData centre development and energy sourcing
Site, permit and energy sourcing support for data centres.
EthaFinlandServices for landowners (wind)
Advice for landowners approached by wind developers.
EthaFinlandRelated projects
Examples from our companies
Envima · Nyköping · 2025
X Shore: environmental permit for the electric boat factory, Nyköping
X Shore builds electric boats at its factory in Nyköping. To scale up to 800 boats a year the factory needed an environmental permit, and Envima led the work through risk assessments and the permit application.
Natur og Samfunn · Trøndelag, Nordland, Agder, Innlandet · 2024
Miljødirektoratet: NiN nature mapping in four counties, Trøndelag, Nordland, Agder, Innlandet
Nature mapping under the NiN method for the Norwegian Environment Agency, covering areas in Trøndelag, Nordland, Agder and Innlandet in 2024.
Etha · Pieksämäki · 2022
Sarvikankaan Tuuli Oy: Sarvikangas wind farm development, EIA and transaction advice, Pieksämäki
The Sarvikangas wind farm in Pieksämäki covers 2,860 hectares and is planned for 25 turbines and 200 MW. Etha has been involved since the preliminary studies in 2022 and supports development, EIA, land-use planning and the search for investors.
Insights
From our specialists
Knowledge · 24 September 2026När blir digitala produktpass ett krav?
Digitala produktpass (DPP) blir ett krav stegvis, en produktgrupp i taget. På sikt kan nästan alla fysiska produkter som säljs i EU omfattas, men kravet gäller först när EU har tagit fram regler för just den produktgruppen. Först ut är batterier i februari 2027. För industrin är stål och aluminium de första stora grupperna. Hur
Monitoring and compliancePlanning and permitting
News · 24 August 2026Etha as project development consultant in the underground pumped hydro project at pyhäsalmi mine
Etha is supporting SENS in advancing the Underground Pumped Hydro Storage project that explores the potential of the decommissioned Pyhäsalmi mine for large-scale energy storage.
Planning and permitting
News · 18 June 2026Etha’s Founder Staffan Asplund Appointed as Environmental Counsellor
The recognition highlights decades of work advancing sustainable energy development in Finland, as well as the lasting role Staffan Asplund has played in shaping Etha’s mission and development.
Planning and permitting
Experts
Our experts
Etha
Jukka Rönnlund
Head of Engineering
Sustainable Energy Project Enablement · Planning, Impact Assessment & Permitting
Etha
Peter Achrén
Director, Projects
Sustainable Energy Project Enablement · Planning, Impact Assessment & Permitting
Envima
Amelie Thelander
Miljöjurist
Planning, Impact Assessment & Permitting · Environmental Management, Compliance & Lifecycle
Contact