HCSS Programme Director Laura Birkman | PBL ‘Grey Swans’ event on geopolitical future of climate and biodiversity governance
At this week's PBL “Grey Swans” event, HCSS Programme Director Laura Birkman explored how shifting geopolitical dynamics are reshaping global climate and biodiversity governance. She highlighted the growing role of strategic competition, critical dependencies, and systemic risks, as well as the increasing importance of minilateral cooperation alongside multilateral frameworks. Birkman emphasised that effective governance must integrate security, equity, and local ownership, particularly as climate impacts and ecosystem degradation intensify and increasingly affect global stability, resilience, and international cooperation.
Climate Stress and EU Cohesion: Strengthening European Resilience through Climate Adaptation
While heat, drought and wildfires disproportionately affect Southern and Southeastern Europe, flooding increasingly impacts Central and Northern regions. This new HCSS report by Ron Stoop and Laura Birkman shows how uneven climate impacts risk straining EU cohesion and decision-making. As climate hazards intensify, diverging national interests could weaken Europe’s collective response capacity. The report argues that targeted adaptation, including in agriculture, infrastructure and coastal resilience, can reduce these tensions and strengthen the EU’s economic security and political stability.
New HCSS report: Climate change is a stress test for European unity, adaptation is key to preserving EU cohesion
While heat, drought and wildfires disproportionately affect Southern and Southeastern Europe, flooding increasingly impacts Central and Northern regions. This new HCSS report by Ron Stoop and Laura Birkman shows how uneven climate impacts risk straining EU cohesion and decision-making. As climate hazards intensify, diverging national interests could weaken Europe’s collective response capacity. The report argues that targeted adaptation, including in agriculture, infrastructure and coastal resilience, can reduce these tensions and strengthen the EU’s economic security and political stability.
