I am a sociologist with a doctorate in social sciences, and I study the societal impacts of climate change. Broadly, in my research I study the adverse effects of climate change mitigation and how they can be reduced, as well as the possibilities for adaptation. Alongside governance, administration and politics, I am interested in what kind of knowledge and whose knowledge is taken into account when decisions are made about a society reshaped by climate change. Such a society should be safe and stable, and it should be able to change towards a more sustainable future. My research focuses in particular on the Nordic countries and the Arctic.
In my doctoral thesis I examined the different ways in which security is constructed, and by whom, when political action is taken to mitigate climate change. Justice runs alongside security, and the development of democracy in a changing climate should be examined as part of defence and security policy. I also study how well the Finnish energy system is prepared for the threats brought by climate change, and how geopolitical shifts are experienced as part of the development of sustainable innovation. In a project starting shortly, I will examine how the concept of care can be developed as part of sustainable development towards fair and secure societies.
I work as a Senior Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and as a visiting researcher at the Arctic Centre. I am a member of the Saami Climate Council until the end of its first term (2027) and chair of the Finnish Arctic Society. Communicating research and engaging with society are an important part of my work. I have gained teaching experience above all at the University of Oulu as a university teacher and lecturer, and I have had the opportunity to speak about my research at various events in Finland and elsewhere in Europe.