No Climate Security Without Collaboration and Social Justice

As climate security is an emerging topic in research, civil society and decision-making, it is becoming an inescapable component of transdisciplinary discussions about climate change related risks. While it is important to discuss climate change in the context of security, it is also essential to keep asking questions such as: What do we mean by security? How can we ensure that security is implemented in socially just and environmentally friendly ways? What is the role of meteorologists, and research in general, in supporting truly cross-sectoral collaboration in understanding, mitigating and adapting to climate change related risks?

This presentation aims to answer these questions by discussing the wider societal context of meteorological research and some pitfalls of securitazation in the context of climate change, and by providing a practical example of transdisciplinary collaboration. The first ever Climate Security Festival was organized in 2023 in the Finnish Meteorological Institute by the Safer Climate network (based at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki) and the Committee of 100 in Finland. The transdisciplinary event gathered almost a 100 people together and utilized varying methods, including participatory activities and artistic approaches, to nurture a multifaceted understanding of climate security. The event program was focused around workshops, where people could share information, discuss and experience together in an open, low-hierarchy environment. The overall feedback of the event was very positive and resulted in new connections, experiences and continuing collaborations.

Collaboration, citizen engagment and social justice are included in numerous security and climate strategies, guidelines and legislations in local, national and international levels. For implementing these guidelines to raise awareness and mitigate climate related security threats, it is crucial to understand how to build and facilitate transdisciplinary collaborations that nurture learning, understanding and cross-sectoral science-based solutions. This can support us in avoiding polarization and conflicts within transdisciplinary research and the society at large.