Finland’s environmental authority has ordered Google to temporarily stop work at two planned datacentre sites, after land was cleared before required environmental assessments were completed.

To stop work means to pause or end an activity. Here, the authority ordered Google to pause work at the sites.

Finland’s environmental authority has ordered Google to temporarily stop work at two planned datacentre sites, after land was cleared before required environmental assessments were completed.

These are checks of how a project may affect nature and the environment.

Here, the authority’s order puts environmental assessments ahead of further work at these sites.

These are checks of how the project may affect nature and the environment.

The Guardian reports that Google said it stopped preparatory work after receiving the authority’s letters on 6 October, and would follow its requests.

Work done to get ready for a larger project is preparatory work. Here, Google stopped those early activities.

The wider context is Finland’s appeal to datacentre developers.

An appeal to someone is a quality that attracts them. Here, Finland has features that may attract companies building datacentres.

The Guardian says developers are drawn to Finland by its available land, and cool climate, which can help lower energy costs.

To be drawn to a place means to feel attracted to it. Here, Finland’s land and climate attract developers.

The Guardian says developers are drawn to Finland by its available land, and cool climate, which can help lower energy costs.

Lower energy costs means spending less money on energy. The sentence says Finland’s cool climate may help reduce that spending.

Here, the authority’s order puts environmental assessments ahead of further work at these sites.

To put something ahead of something else means to give it priority. Here, the checks must come before more work.