Ever since the energy crisis, the scarcity of natural resources has been clear to Ilkka Herlin. A sense that he should take part in some form of social activism became part of Herlin’s worldview while working on his doctoral dissertation. He wanted to work on something through which he could achieve concrete and long-term benefits.

– When I finished my dissertation in 1993, I began to systematically work on environmental issues. Together with Sirpa Pietikäinen, we established a foundation called Ympäristö ja talous (‘Environment and Economy’). We worked hard on the project, but the business world at the time was not yet ready for this kind of collaboration.

Through Pietikäinen Herlin met Juha Sarkkula, who had been developing a format through which representatives of different social groups could engage with environmental issues.

– Sarkkula helped me have a more concrete understanding of how to advance the protection of the Baltic Sea by bringing together social and business representatives. All parties have their own interests in saving the Baltic Sea. The prudent course of action is therefore to get them to work together.

Herlin also discovered that political activity was one significant way to influence society. He joined the Centre Party of Finland and has championed environmental issues through political channels. He has also invited experts from several fields to take part in the Baltic Sea Action Group.

In addition to saving the sea, the Baltic Sea Action Group is actively involved in issues related to climate change.

– We are working to improve the environment, whether we are speaking of land, water or air. It is clear that the Baltic Sea is suffering. Our goal at the foundation has been to get all the agents who can do something to save the Sea to work together in a new way. This has sped up the process to save the Sea, but there is much work to be done. The Baltic Sea is contaminated. Now we have to find out exactly what the causes are, and how to fix the situation and to prevent it from being contaminated further. This requires wide-ranging collaboration, and through my experience I want to bring together experts from different fields to work towards a common goal.

Herlin feels that the humanities are about participation in social activities on the basis of one’s own worldview, in particular in those parts of society that are of personal importance. Close to his heart is agricultural development, which he practises on his two farms.

– On my farms we are testing new methods of making agriculture work for the benefit of the climate and the waterways. The idea is not just reducing emissions. We are trying to figure out how to capture emissions from water and air and thereby aid nutrient cycling.

Herlin enthusiastically describes recent American studies that have determined agriculture to be the best way of capturing airborne carbon. On top of protecting the Baltic Sea, it is important to him to discover agricultural means of controlling the effects of climate change. Herlin is pleased to meet farmers as well as other agricultural workers.

– Climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and traffic, but it also leads to soil erosion and degradation. By returning organic matter to the soil we can capture carbon in the air and store it in the ground, and improve the state of the soil itself. The improved nutrient uptake in the soil will then produce larger harvests. Speaking with those who work in agriculture makes it easier for me to share information and come up with solutions to the problems.