RIINA BHATIA

I am Riina Bhatia, a sustainable futures researcher and a deputy city council member in Helsinki. In the municipal elections of 2025 I got 904 votes and became the second deputy member in the Green’s council group!
THANK YOU for all voters and campaign supporters for your trust!

With your support, I will continue my work to make Helsinki a kind and sustainable city, where everyone can live a good life within the planet’s boundaries.

My goals for the city

1. Build on nature’s terms

We need to spare our nature from building, and instead add green areas where we can. In all city planning, we must consider the changing climate. This means both reducing our emissions and adapting to extreme weather events and heatwaves amplified by climate change. In building, we should increase the amount of repair construction instead of new construction.

2. Make transport effortless and emission-free

Moving around must be convenient without a car, which requires improvements in pedestrian streets and biking lanes (especially during winter) and public transport. Affordable public transport is also a must, and ticket prices of HSL should be decreased. To prevent ticket price increases, we should stop funding public transport infrastructure projects from the operating budget and treat them as investments instead (like we do with car tunnels). For scooters we need reasonable restrictions.

3. Support communities and culture

Helsinki lives through it’s vibrant and versatile culture life, which needs more affordable spaces! The city should strive to provide such spaces instead of selling out all it’s ”extra” properties. We must create spaces where people can spend time without the need to consume. Helsinki should also encourage small, local, and creative businesses. A sustainable city needs more repair services, for instance.

Want to know more about my politics? Contact me at: riina.bhatia @ gmail.com

About me

I was born in 1993 to a working-class Finnish-Indian family and spent my childhood in the countryside of Turku. After finishing school, a curiosity towards the world led me to study political science. I hold a Master of Science in Political Economy and Ecology and a Master’s degree in Social Sciences, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Currently I work as a researcher at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and pursue my PhD studies at the University of Helsinki. In my research, I explore the transformation of societies towards more sustainable economic systems. Specifically, I focus on sustainability transitions, degrowth economics, and the role of technology and innovation policy in a post-growth economy.

I am also a founding member and the first chairperson of Rethinking Economics Finland. Rethinking Economics aims to diversify the teaching of economics and broaden economic discussions in society.

I serve as a deputy city councilor for the City of Helsinki and as a member of the Buildings and Public Areas Subcommittee of the Urban Environment Division, as well as a deputy member of HUS’s Research, Development, Education, and Innovation Board. I am also a deputy member of the Green Party’s Council.

In my free time I like to take long walks at the seaside with my dog Myrsky. In addition I enjoy photographing, football and running.