Teaching at the CCCI PhD Summer School in Oslo, Norway!

PC: Syed Musa Nuri  

Kamrul Hossain

From 11–15 August 2025, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute in Oslo hosted the second edition of the CCCI PhD Summer School (The Scenario Analyses Regarding Climate Change Hazards and Critical Infrastructure in the Arctic) — a multidisciplinary programme designed to equip PhD scholars and early-career researchers with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to address one of the Arctic’s most urgent challenges: the growing risks that climate change poses to critical infrastructure and essential societal functions. Organised by Oslo Meteorological Institute and the UiT The Arctic University of Norway, in partnership with the University of Lapland in Finland and Lund University in Sweden, the event brought together PhD candidates from across the Nordic region to strengthen cross-border collaboration and foster an epistemic community of experts capable of addressing climate change risks from multiple disciplinary perspectives in the decades ahead. The summer school is a part of the NordForsk-funded project of the partner institutions.

The programme focused on climate change in the Nordic Arctic, a region experiencing warming at a pace and intensity far greater than most of the planet. Rising temperatures, thawing permafrost, glacier and sea ice retreat, and altered precipitation patterns are already transforming landscapes and ecosystems. These changes are intensifying hazards such as flooding, flash floods, landslides, wildfires, extreme storms, and temperature extremes, all of which are expected to become more frequent and severe. Such hazards threaten critical infrastructure systems — the interconnected networks that sustain modern society, from power grids and transport routes to healthcare facilities, communication lines, and rescue services. Damage to one part of these systems can trigger cascading failures with serious social and economic consequences. Recognising this, the CCCI Summer School adopted a holistic approach, examining not only individual hazards but also how they intersect and compound across different infrastructure sectors.

Over the course of the week, the programme blended expert-led lectures, scenario analysis training, and hands-on group work. Participants explored topics such as glacial hazards in a warming Norway, the implications of permafrost thaw, quick clay landslides, and the role of human rights and security in climate-related risk scenarios. Scenario analysis sessions trained them to model and anticipate future risk situations, while policy brief workshops focused on translating scientific insights into actionable recommendations for decision-makers. A key strength of the Summer School was its interdisciplinary nature, with faculty and guest lecturers bringing expertise from the social sciences, law, engineering, and natural sciences. 

I was privileged to deliver a lecture and offer my insights and thoughts on the incorporation of human security concerns, which provide conditions for the actual enjoyment of human rights, in a crisis scenario. Such concerns are an integral part of emergency preparedness and planning programs. Therefore, my particular input in the Doctoral school included the inclusion of human security and human rights concerns in the scenario-building exercises in the context of climate hazards in the Arctic. This diversity of perspectives allowed participants to develop a comprehensive understanding of climate change adaptation and resilience, reflecting the reality that no single discipline can fully capture the complexity of climate-related risks or their governance.

The ultimate goal of the programme was to prepare the next generation of experts, crisis managers, and policymakers to navigate the uncertainties of a changing climate and to strengthen the resilience of Nordic societies against both foreseeable and unexpected challenges. By the end of the week, participants had not only deepened their technical understanding but also built a growing network dedicated to safeguarding the Arctic’s infrastructure and communities. Evening activities, including a welcome dinner, cultural excursions, and a film night co-hosted with the Norwegian Geophysical Society, created informal spaces for networking and cultural exchange. By combining academic rigour with collaborative and social elements, the CCCI PhD Summer School succeeded in building both the knowledge base and the lasting professional relationships needed to address the Arctic’s climate resilience challenges in the years to come.