On 28 August 2025, as part of Finland’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, SIPRI and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) co-hosted a workshop in Helsinki to explore the intersection of environmental risks and regional security.
The workshop, titled ‘How Do Environmental Risks Threaten Our Regional Stability and Societal Well-being?’, brought together experts, policymakers and researchers from the Nordic–Baltic region. Discussions focused on how environmental challenges—such as climate change, biodiversity loss and extreme weather events—can exacerbate traditional security threats and undermine societal well-being.
The workshop highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to security that integrates environmental dimensions into preparedness and resilience strategies. The event forms part of Finland’s broader efforts to strengthen regional cooperation on crisis response and long-term sustainability.
Dr Florian Krampe, Director of SIPRI’s Climate Change and Risk Programme, and Dr Emma Hakala, Leading Researcher, FIIA, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between environmental and security policy communities. The workshop reflects SIPRI’s commitment to advancing research and policy engagement on climate-related security risks.
Click here for more information about SIPRI’s Climate Change and Risk Programme.