[...] there has been a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on societies and how the problems relating to climate change in some other part of the world may be reflected in Finland through the global economy, migration and environmental refugees.

Climate change has numerous potential impacts on internal security. Illegal immigration and smuggling and trafficking in human beings are serious global problems. Climate change may increase these further if it leads to impoverishment of regions and weaker preconditions for life. The number of people heading to Europe and especially its northern parts may be growing. Human trafficking takes place in several forms (from forced labour to sex trafficking) and it is one of the most profitable forms of organised crime. Combating human trafficking is one of the key priorities in police cooperation in the EU.

Climate change can also result in increased migration, and the study estimates that an increased number of “climate refugees” would cause costs to Finland as well. The study at hand does not address this alternative. The local impacts of climate change are refl ected in large regions. The worsening of living conditions causes pressure to migrate to other regions and may lead to unrest when people have to struggle for insufficient supplies of food and water. This may lead to global security risks.

In several of the least developed countries, the climate is already a burden to food production. In areas which suffer from drought, the situation may become even worse and may lead to the migration of the population to new locations. It would be extremely diffi cult to fi nd better living conditions and work for untrained and poor people, which would further intensify poverty.