Project
IDEALE is an Academy of Finland fellowship project lead by Dr. Paula Kivimaa, Research Professor in Climate and Society, in SYKE’s Climate Change Programme. (Decision numbers 322667, 328717, 352972)
IDEALE connects the research streams of sustainability transitions, energy and national security, and policy interplay (policy coherence and policy integration) to analyse the interconnections between energy and defence/security policies.
Empirical research is carried out on Finland, Estonia, Norway and Scotland.
Aims
The project aims to examine connections between policy strategies and policy processes in two different policy domains – national security and defence policy (with particular focus on geopolitical and cyber security) and energy policy (with particular focus on low carbon innovation).
Objectives:
To develop the study of policy interplay (policy coherence & policy integration) conceptually and methodologically by incorporating elements of sustainability transitions and security studies.
To conduct deep and extensive empirical analysis of synergies and conflicts between national defence and security policy and energy policy, from the perspective of sustainability transitions, in Finland, Estonia, Norway and Scotland.
To create novel theoretical insights regarding sustainability transitions in connection to national defence and geopolitical security as extensions to energy security.
Research questions:
In what ways does low-carbon energy policy influence national security?
What kind of synergies, complementarities, conflicts, and examples of policy integration can be detected between low carbon energy policy and national defence and security policy in the case countries since 2006?
How have energy and defence policies reacted to landscape changes pertaining to Russian politics?
How does interplay between energy policy and defence and security policy explain the difficulties in pursuing sustainability transitions?
Methods
Empirical country studies:
Case study approach will be combined with qualitative research using in-depth interviews and detailed document analysis as sources, testing novel approaches in both. Case selection was focused on small European countries and carried out by examining the countries' energy profiles, geopolitical positioning and innovation rankings, based on diversity regarding the nature of low-carbon energy transition, position on nuclear power, relationship with Russia, and access to data.
Research stages:
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Analysis of policy strategies and approaches
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Analysis of in-depth expert interviews
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Thematic studies on: covid-recovery, innovation policy and European Arctic goverance and policymaking
Publications
Kivimaa, P., & Sivonen, M. H. (2024). “We rather not connect trade to politics, let alone geopolitics” – The changing role of Russia as a landscape pressure for zero-carbon energy transitions. Energy Research & Social Science, 118(103775). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103775
Sivonen, M. H., Kivimaa, P. 2024. ‘Securitization of Energy Transitions in Estonia, Finland and Norway’. International Political Sociology 18 (3): olae017. https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olae017.
Kivimaa, P. (2024, forthcoming). Security in Sustainable Energy Transitions: Interplay between Energy, Security, and Defence Policies in Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Scotland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge & New York.
Kivimaa, P., Hildén, M., Carter, T.R., Mosoni, C., Pitzén, S. and Sivonen, M.H. (2024). Evaluating Policy Coherence and Integration for Adaptation: The Case of EU Policies and Arctic Cross-Border Climate Change Impacts. Climate Policy, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2024.2337168.
Kivimaa, P. (2023). Climate Security Connects Fragile and Strong States via Cascading Effects: A Review Article. Oxford University Press (OUP).
Sivonen, M.H. & Kivimaa, P. 2023. Politics in the energy-security nexus: an epistemic governance approach to the zero-carbon energy transition in Finland, Estonia, and Norway, Environmental Sociology.
Kivimaa, P., Sivonen, M.H. 2023. ‘How Will Renewables Expansion and Hydrocarbon Decline Impact Security? Analysis from a Socio-Technical Transitions Perspective’. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 48 (September): 100744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2023.100744.
Paula Kivimaa, 2023. Book Review: Climate Security Connects Fragile and Strong States via Cascading Effects: A Review Article, Political Science Quarterly, qqad035, https://doi.org/10.1093/psquar/qqad035
Kivimaa, P., Lukkarinen, J. Lazarevic, D. 2023. Analysis of COVID-19 recovery and resilience policy in Finland: a transformative policy mix approach. Science and Public Policy, 00: 0-14.
Kivimaa, P. (2022). Policy and political (in)coherence, security, and Nordic-Baltic energy transitions, Oxford Open Energy. https://doi.org/10.1093/ooenergy/oiac009
Kivimaa, Brisbois, M. C., Jayaram, D., Hakala, E., & Siddi, M. (2022). A socio-technical lens on security in sustainability transitions: Future expectations for positive and negative security. Futures: the Journal of Policy, Planning and Futures Studies, 141, 102971–.
Kivimaa, P., Schwaag-Serger,S. 2022. Concept paper on distractions from transformative innovation policy. Working paper produced in the context expert work for JRC, 3.5.2022.
Kivimaa, P. 2022. Transforming innovation policy in the context of global security. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 43: 55-61.
Kivimaa, P. 2022. Low-Carbon Energy Transitions: Interconnections between Security and Justice from a European Perspective. International Affairs Forum, March 2022: 45-48. [non peer-reviewed]
Kivimaa, P., Sivonen, M.H. 2021. Interplay Between Low-Carbon Energy Transitions and National Security: An Analysis of Policy Integration and Coherence in Estonia, Finland and Scotland. Energy Research & Social Science 75: 102024.
Kivimaa, P., Laakso, S., Lonkila, A., Kaljonen, M. 2021. Moving beyond disruptive innovation: A review of disruption in sustainability transitions. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 38: 110-126.
Kanda, W., Kivimaa, P. 2020. What opportunities could the COVID-19 outbreak offer for sustainability transitions research on electricity and mobility? Energy Research & Social Science 68, 101666.
Ghosh, B., Kivimaa, P., Ramirez, M., Schot, J., Torrens, J. 2021. Transformative outcomes: Assessing and reorienting experimentation with transformative innovation policy. Science and Public Policy, 2021.
Blog Posts, Podcasts & Others
Mene & tiedä. Marja Helena Sivonen. Onko energiamurrokset turvallistettu ilmiö? Nuorten Tiedeakatemia.
IDEALE workshop: ‘Sustainability Transitions, Security and Geopolitics’. 20. - 21.5.2024. Helsinki.
Syke Solutions blog: 1.12.2023. Paula Kivimaa and Eeva Primmer: Finland needs positive security. [saatavilla myös suomeksi]
Syke Ratkaisuja-blogi: 21.6.2023. Marja Helena Sivonen and Emma Hakala: At the speed of trust: New ways of action are needed for Arctic cooperation. [saatavilla myös suomeksi].
2nd Meeting of the group of high-level specialists on the future of cohesion policy. 9.3.2023. Available on EU Commission Streaming service. Paula Kivimaa, on at time 12:12 onwards.
Pullopostia-blogi, Centrum Balticum: 9.3.2023. Paula Kivimaa: Ilmasto- ja energiaturvallisuus itämerellä.
Landscape Shocks: Reframing the Energy Transition. Michael LaBelle: My Energy 2050 podcast series. Paula Kivimaa. Recording available online.
Ilmasto, tiede ja tulevaisuus -webinaarisarja: Ilmastokriisi, energia ja turvallisuus. Suomen Akatemia. Paula Kivimaa. Tallenne katsottavissa verkossa. 15.11.2022.
Energia-teemailta. Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia. Paula Kivimaa. Tallenne katsottavissa verkossa. 14.11.2022.
Kestävyyssiirtymät, turvallisuus ja tutkimus- & innovaatiopolitiikka. Paula Kivimaa. Tutkimus- ja innovaationeuvoston kokous 29.9.2022.
Orsi-podcast: Kristallipallo K5, jakso Huoltovarmuus, Marja Helena Sivonen 29.4.2022.
Kestävyysmuutoksentekijät #15: Sota ja kestävyysmurros. Paula Kivimaa 25.3.2022. Videotallenne.
Ympäristötiedonfoorumi. Paula Kivimaa 23.3.2022. Ympäristödialogeja: Sota Euroopassa vauhdittaa energiamurrosta: mitä vaihtoehtoja meillä on? Videotallenne.
Sussex Energy Group at SPRU 25.3.2021 by Paula Kivimaa: Low carbon energy and national security: why incoherent policy risks delaying energy transition in Europe.
SYKE Ratkaisuja-blogi (in Finnish) 15.9.2020 by Paula Kivimaa ja Marja Helena Sivonen: Energia- ja ilmastopolitiikkaan tarvitaan uudenlaista avointa turvallisuusajattelua
Past event: IDEALE Research seminar 18.8.2022 12.30–16.00 Tieteiden talo, Helsinki and online: "New understandings of security and geopolitics for climate change and advancing energy transition"
Media Acknowledgements
Tiede & Taide. Vihreän eri sävyt. 3/2024.
Maailman kuvalehti 29.9.2023. Pulaa lääkkeistä, hinnat pilvissä ja Euroopan sisäinen pakolaisaalto – Ilmastonmuutoksessa on kyse turvallisuudesta, ja näin se voisi näkyä Suomessa.
Etelä-Suomen Sanomat 14.7.2023: USU-gallup: Puolet vastaajista hyväksyisi ilmastotoimet, jotka lisäävät arjen kustannuksia.
Uusimaa 4.5.2023: Ilmastoasiantuntija: Tavoite tehdä ilmastotoimia kilpailukykyä heikentämättä ja arjen kustannuksia nostamatta on realistinen.
HBL 17.1.2023: Polisvåld skadade tiotals klimataktivister – liknande konflikter kan bli vanligare också i Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat 6.11.2022: Venäjän kiinnostus ilmastotavoitteista taisikin olla hämäystä, arvioi tutkija.
YLE 5.4.2022 by Anna Karismo: Analyysi: Neljä syytä, miksi Venäjän energiasta on vaikea luopua kokonaan.
HBL 24.3.2022 by Peter Buchert: Svårt för Europa att försnabba avvecklingen av fossila bränslen på ett smart sätt.
BBC News at One 14.3.2022. (1:29pm)
BBC 8.3.2022 by Matt McGrath: Climate change: EU unveils plan to end reliance on Russian gas.
TIME 4.3.2022 by Alejandro de la Garza: Europe’s Green Energy Plans Are Threatened by the Need to Wean Itself Off Russian Gas.
HBL 3.1.2022 by Peter Buchert: Paula Kivimaa forskar i hur det klimatsmarta samhället ska bli rättvist.
The National 25.3.2021 by Greg Russel: UK Government obstructing Scotland's aspirations for a net-zero country, academics say.
Insider.co.uk 25.3.2021 by Peter A. Walker: Scotland’s low carbon future 'restricted by UK national security objectives'.
University of Sussex News 25.3.2021 by Neil Vowles: Scotland’s pursuit of low carbon future restricted by UK national security objectives.
Commentaries and statements
Action recommendations of the research project: The advancing energy transition requires a broader approach to energy security. Publisher: Finnish Environment Institute. September 2024.
Maanpuolustus 4.12.2022. Paula Kivimaa: Miten energiasiirtymä liittyy turvallisuuspolitiikkaan?
Policy Brief: Paula Kivimaa and Kacper Szulecki 2022, Norway needs energy and security policy coherence. Norwegian Institute of International Affairs [NUPI].
Helsingin Sanomat Vieraskynä 7.3.2022. Paula Kivimaa: Siirtymä fossiilittomaan energiaan on myös turvallisuuspolitiikkaa.
Lausunto eduskunnan tulevaisuusvaliokunnalle Valtioneuvoston ulko- ja turvallisuuspoliittisesta selonteosta VNS 4/2020.
Event participation (panels, lectures, talks)
2024
IST2024 Conference participation: hosting a session: Track12. Connections of sustainability transitions with security, geopolitics and peace. 17.6.2024 Oslo, Norway.
Kivimaa, P. Energy transitions and security. Lecture on the course on technology and security, Tampere University, 26.3.2024, [online].
Kivimaa, P. Turvallisuus kestävässä energiasiirtymässä: Energia-, turvallisuus- ja puolustuspolitiikan vuorovaikutus Suomessa, Virossa, Norjassa ja Skotlannissa. Kutsuesitelmä, Ulkoministeriö. 14.3.2024 Helsinki.
Kivimaa, P. How will renewables expansion and hydrocarbon decline impact security? Analysis from a socio-technical perspective. Invited talk at a Chatham House event 'Energy Security and Geopolitics at Uncertain Times'. 11.3.2024, London.
Kivimaa, P. Security in Sustainable Energy Transitions. Presentation at Kick-off Workshop for EASAC Working Group on Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies, 6-8.2.2024, Brussels.
Kivimaa, P. Finland: Energy policy pre- and post 2022. European Heat Decarbonisation Policy Webinar, 26.2024 [online]
Kivimaa, P. Security in Sustainable Energy Transitions: Interplay Between Energy, Security and Defence Policies in Estonia, Finland, Norway and Scotland. Invited talk by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 25.1.2024 Tallinn.
Kivimaa, P. Governance of Sustainability Transitions – Complexities and Success? Invited talk to Loughborough University. 23.1.2024 [online]
2023
Kivimaa, P. Suomen Tiedeakatemiain seminaari: Tiede ja vihreä siirtymä. Paneelikeskustelu. Katsottavissa verkossa tämän linkin kautta. 16.11.
Kivimaa, P. Security in context of energy transitions: A shift from hydrocarbon-based security towards a new energy-security nexus. NATO Climate Security workshop. Chatham House, London. 25.9.2023.
Sivonen, M.H. The interrelations between climate security and zero-carbon energy transitions. Peace Day Seminar. United Nations Association of Tampere. 21.9.2023
Kivimaa, P. "Energy transitions and security" Lecture on the course on technology and security, Tampere University, 7.2.2023, [online]
Kivimaa, P. "Kestävyyskriisin haasteet ja turvallisuuspolitiikka." TEM:n tilaisuus: Kansainvälisen teknologia- ja innovaatioyhteistyön muutospaineet – miten Suomi navigoi? Helsinki, Finland. 1.3.2023.
Kivimaa, P. “Interplay between National Defence, Security and Low-Carbon Energy Policies: a Sustainability Transitions Perspective”, visit of the Hans Böckler Foundation (Germany) to Syke, Helsinki, Finland. 27.4.2023.
Kivimaa, P. 2023. "Energia, ympäristö ja tuvallisuus muuttuvassa maailmassa." OP Ryhmän Tutkimussäätiön teemapäivä. 26.1.2023.
2022
Kivimaa, P. "Governing the green transition: Policy mixes, innovations and the regional perspective. "Webinar organised by the Ostrobothnia Regional Council in Finland 23.9.2022.
Kivimaa, P. "Energiasiirtymän ulottuvuudet." STTK:n Ilmasto-etäseminaari Energiasiirtymä ja sen vaikutukset oikeudenmukaisuuteen, 16.5.2022.
Kivimaa, P. "Public policy and energy transitions." Guest lecture at Aalto University, 10.5.2022
Kivimaa, P. "Energiasiirtymä ja turvallisuus." ILVO valtionhallinnon viestintäverkosto. 25.3.2022.
Kivimaa, P. "Energia, ilmasto ja turvallisuus." Ympäristöministeriön ilmastotiimi 8.3.2022.
Kivimaa, Schwaag-Serger, S., Stenberg, L."Transformative innovation policy and the recovery and resilience packages in Austria, Finland and Sweden." OECD-VINNOVA workshop. 7.3.2022.
Kivimaa, P. "Energy transitions and security." Lecture at Tampere University course on Technology and Security. 25.1.2022.
2021
Kivimaa, P. The role of research and innovation in sustainability transitions”, a knowledge talk for EC DG Research and Innovation, Brussels, Belgium. 7.6.2021.
2020
Kivimaa, P. Policy interplay in low-carbon sustainability transitions: concepts and new challenges. Guest Lecture for University of Padova, 9.4.2020
Kivimaa, P. Public policy and energy transitions. Guest Lecture for Aalto University, 30.4.2020
Kivimaa, P. What does ‘security’ mean for sustainable low-carbon energy transitions? An analysis of interplay between energy, defence and security policies in four European countries. Guest seminar at the Finnish Institute for Foreign Affairs, 9.12.2020.
Academic presentations (conferences etc.)
2024
Sivonen, M.H. The interrelations of zero-carbon energy transition and security in the Finnish and Norwegian Arctic. Arctic Frontiers poster session, Tromsø, Norway. 29.1.2024.
2023
Sivonen, M.H. The interrelations of zero-carbon energy transition and security in the Finnish and Norwegian Arctic. Beyond crisis/Beyond normal: A social science and humanities conference on sustainability. NTNU Energy Team Society, Trondheim, Norway. 27.-28.9.2023.
Kivimaa, P. Understanding security and geopolitics in the context of sustainability transitions. Special Session organiser at IST2024, Utrecht University, NL. 29.8-1.9.2023.
Sivonen, M.H. The interrelations of zero-carbon energy transition and security in the Finnish and Norwegian Arctic. IST2024, Utrecht University, NL. 29.8-1.9.2023.
Sivonen, M.H. "Finland and Norway in the Arctic: the interrelations between security and energy". European Sociological Association - RN 15 “Global, Transnational and Cosmopolitan Sociology”: Second Mid-Term Conference “Which globalization during and after multiple crises?” Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy. 18.19.5. 2023.
Kivimaa, P. (presenter), Sivonen, M.H. "Russia as a landscape factor in the energy transition of small European countries". Arctic Frontiers, Tromsø, Norway. 1.2.2023.
2022
Kivimaa, P. "Policy and political (in)coherence, security, and Nordic-Baltic energy transitions." ECPR General Conference, Innsbruck, Austria 22. - 26.8.2022.
Kivimaa, P., Sivonen, M.H. (presenting) "Russia as a landscape factor in the energy transition of small European countries." ECPR General Conference, Innsbruck, Austria 22. - 26.8.2022.
Sivonen, M.H. (presenting), Kivimaa, P. "A Nordic country perspective on the interrelations between security and energy transition in the Arctic. "Poster and oral presentation. Arctic Frontiers 2022, Tromsø, Norway. 8.5.2022.
Sivonen, M.H. "Onko vähähiilinen energiamurros turvallistettu ilmiö?" Sosiologipäivät, Maanpuolustuksen ja turvallisuuden sosiologia -työryhmä. Jyväskylä 24.3.2022.
2021
Kivimaa, P. Keynote: Advancing sustainability transitions and new challenges. International Conference on Sustainable Resource Society, 25.-26.10.2021
Kivimaa, P. Security implications of the sustainable energy transition: Analysis of expert perceptions from four European countries”. International Sustainability Transitions Conference, 5.-8.10.2021
Sivonen, M.H. Securitising low-carbon energy transition in Estonia, Finland and Norway. International Sustainability Transitions Conference, 5.-8.10.2021
Sivonen, M.H. Securitising of low-carbon energy transition in Estonia, Finland and Norway. Interpretive Policy Analysis conference. 1.7.2021.
Kivimaa, P. “Widening scope of STI policies in sustainability transitions: transformation, justice and security”, EU-SPRI conference keynote presentation, Oslo, Norway. 11.6.2021.
Sivonen, M.H. Politics of energy and security: An epistemic governance approach to the low-carbon energy transition in Finland, Estonia and Norway. European Sociological Association’s (ESA) RN 15 Midterm Conference, Tampere Finland. 26.5.2021.
2020
Kivimaa, P., Sivonen, M.H. Interplay between national security and low-carbon energy considerations from the perspective of sustainability transitions: An analysis of three European countries. International Sustainability Transitions Conference, 18.-21.8.2020. (paper available)
Kivimaa, P. Social aspects on energy transitions: insights on security, energy democracy and policy. Aalto Energy Platform, course for MSc students. 12.11.2020
Research Team
Paula Kivimaa is an expert in policy analysis with respect to sustainability transitions, in the crossover of energy and innovation policy domains. She holds an MSc (Distinction) in Environmental Technology (Energy Policy) from Imperial College London and a PhD in Organisations and Management from Helsinki School of Economics. She currently holds a position of Research Professor in Climate and Society in SYKE. She has previously worked as Senior Researcher in SYKE (since 2003) and as Senior Research Fellow at SPRU, University of Sussex (during 2015-2019), where she retains a small affiliation.
Marja Helena Sivonen holds a Mc.Soc.Sci. in Global and Transnational Sociology from Tampere University. She is a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences in sociology in Tampere. Her PhD. thesis investigates the interconnections between energy transitions and national security from the point of view of politics and power in Estonia, Finland and Norway from 2006 to 2023. Her work includes also Arctic energy transition and security questions from Finnish and Norwegian perspectives. Sivonen is a member of Tampere research group for Cultural and Political Sociology and a member of the board and treasurer of The Arctic Society of Finland.
Claire Mosoni is a junior researcher with MSc in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development Engineering from Bordeaux University, France.