Crisis Leadership in the Arctic Response

CLEAR aims to further develop the thematic network on Arctic Safety and Security (TNASS) by pursuing crisis leadership training for decision-makers in the Arctic through simulations and exercises. The activities will gather state-of-the-art training professionals, researchers and academics in crisis leadership, management and governance in the Nordics and establish a strong network to share knowledge, best practices and research on simulation-based crisis management training.

Through the CLEAR project, we aim to establish an interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners interested in strengthening the capacity to manage crisis events under Arctic conditions through research-based specialised training and exercises. The participants are students, teachers, researchers, practitioners, public administration, and Arctic community members and representatives interested in all aspects of engendering their capacity to engage in crisis leadership through different forms of simulations. We believe that the TNASS and CLEAR will contribute significantly to Arctic community resilience and capacity-building in a competence area which is needed more than ever.

Due to climatic and geopolitical changes in the Arctic, preparedness and crisis leadership have become key competencies needed to coordinate scarce resources, manage logistics, and ensure the best possible crisis response. The Arctic faces specific challenges due to its sparse population, lack of infrastructure, fragile environmental conditions and abundant natural resources, which has increased human activity significantly. Numerous events are occurring that involve crisis leadership, for example, multiple local blackouts and ships being caught in storms, and lost tourists, have meant that rural and Indigenous communities find themselves with the task of managing complex crises with little or no help from the outside.

During the next two years (2025-2027), CLEAR will strengthen academic research and teaching in crisis leadership in the Arctic through an action research methodology, which will further support local communities and Indigenous peoples' resilience in the region. The CLEAR project will strengthen three critical areas by advancing crisis leadership research, education and skills development in the Arctic context. First, how Arctic communities’ traditional knowledge, current practices, and strengths can be used to support the local capacity to manage the consequences of disastrous events and this knowledge's role in decision-making at governance levels. Second, how to support community crisis leadership in the region while being mindful of the unique social, cultural and physical environment. Finally, additional skills are needed to sustain crisis management capabilities as the circumpolar region undergoes rapid changes. Resilience is more than being able to adapt to change and rebound to a preset equilibrium it includes specialised skills in crisis management and leadership.

CLEAR aims to further develop the thematic network on Arctic Safety and Security (hashtag#TNASS) by pursuing crisis leadership training for decision-makers in the Arctic through simulations and exercises. The activities will gather state-of-the-art training professionals, researchers, and academics in crisis leadership, management, and governance in the Nordics and establish a strong network to share knowledge, best practices, and research on simulation-based crisis management training.

The project has assembled an established interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners interested in strengthening the capacity to manage crisis events under Arctic conditions through research-based, specialised training and exercises. The participants are students, teachers, researchers, practitioners, public administration officials, and Arctic community members and representatives interested in all aspects of building their capacity to engage in crisis leadership through various forms of simulation.

We believe that the TNASS and CLEAR will contribute significantly to Arctic community resilience and capacity-building in a competence area which is needed more than ever.

The utility of simulations and exercises in crisis management training