Interrelations between security and the zero‑carbon energy transition in the Finnish and Norwegian Arctic

Abstract

The Arctic faces major energy-related changes: its production, consumption and transportation must be decarbonised. Furthermore, geopolitical interests in the area are growing, with tensions around land use expected to increase. In this paper, we investigate energy transition processes in the Finnish and Norwegian Arctic from the niche development and regime decline viewpoints. We mirror these processes onto concepts of positive and negative security to analyse the security environment affecting the transitions. We hypothesise that notions of security can explain delays in transitions. We analysed recent Finnish and Norwegian Arctic strategies and expert interviews to examine how energy transitions are discussed in the security context. Although energy and defence policies are national rather than regional, the analysis revealed interesting Arctic-wide issues. While strategies mainly concentrated on justifying support for fossil fuel production for socio-economic and national security purposes, the interviewees discussed more nuanced approaches to developing the energy transition. Notions of justice during the transition received attention in both countries in relation to security, with the local population gaining a deeper sense of responsibility for the areas they inhabit. We call for positive security to support sustainable energy transitions, where uncertainty and responses to changes are dynamic and based on multi-actor processes.