The Peace and Security Implications of Climate Change for the Nordic Region

Abstract

Climate-related stressors like extreme weather events, in combination with factors such as increased global rivalry for natural resources and a changing global order, will exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, and drive compounding and cascading effects. Such developments may undermine the resilience of communities and institutions also in the Nordic region and can have a negative impact on social cohesion and human security. In the Arctic region, in particular, temperature rises faster than the global, which further increases vulnerability and risks. This discussion article suggests that the Nordic countries are relatively well equipped to tackle comprehensive security risks and have adaptive capacity towards climate change. We argue, however, that far more could still be done on foresight and preparedness for climate-related security risks. In particular, the Nordic countries must strengthen their cooperation on climate security to effectively address the escalating challenges.