Mika Vanhanen

Background

About Mika Vanhanen

I am a pioneer in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and digital education, with over 30 years of experience leading transformative initiatives at the intersection of learning, sustainability, and community empowerment. As a value-driven leader, I believe that true impact starts with people — and with the values we choose to live by. My latest initiative, Peace Circle®, brings communities together to co-create symbolic green spaces that stand for peace, unity, and ecological balance. Rooted in ESD principles, Peace Circles are also platforms for dialogue, inclusion, and shared responsibility — spaces where humanity and sustainability meet in action. I also serve as Treemaster at TreebuddyEarth, a global service that connects individuals and organizations to climate-positive action through tree planting, transparency, and long-term care. Back in I founded Environment Online (ENO), a global virtual school and network that has reached over 150 countries and planted more than 30 million trees. ENO has empowered thousands of schools and young people worldwide to act for the planet — earning recognitions like the WWF Panda Prize and Finland's State Award for Public Information. Whether through Peace Circle®, TreebuddyEarth, or ENO, I am committed to creating a culture of peace, sustainability, and intergenerational collaboration — where learning leads to action and values become visible. In addition to my professional work, I’m also a musician, singer-songwriter, and pianist, always exploring the intersection of creativity, emotion, and connection.