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Short Abstract

The paper argues that it is crucial to consider more-than-human actors as stakeholders in the energy transition. To illustrate the effects of the energy transition on more-than-human actors, the paper examines the case of wind energy development in Finland.

Abstract

The development of renewable energy deepens existing societal inequalities, severely affecting vulnerable groups, including Indigenous residents, remote communities, and more-than-human actors. These impacts often reinforce one another, as biodiversity loss results in “cultural trauma” for local residents due to its damaging effects on Indigenous and local knowledge. This paper draws on R. Edward Freeman’s stakeholder theory (1984), which defines individuals or groups affected by an organization’s activities as stakeholders. Given the direct impact of renewable energy projects on landscapes and animal habitats, the paper argues that it is crucial to consider more-than-human actors as stakeholders in the energy transition. This perspective challenges the anthropocentric nature of stakeholder research, which traditionally views nonhuman nature as a resource for human and organizational benefit. To illustrate the effects of the energy transition on more-than-human actors, the paper examines the case of wind energy development in Finland. Using content analysis of discussions in the open Finnish-language Facebook group Tuulivoimalapolitiikka, it analyzes users’ perceptions of wind power’s influence on selected animal species—specifically, the wolf, golden eagle, and white-tailed deer. The paper argues that opposition to wind power may impact the formation of stronger alliances between humans and animals, reinforcing established multispecies connections. Additionally, it discusses the value of applying stakeholder theory to analyze the impact of energy transitions on more-than-human actors.