Small and remote communities in the Nordic countries face unique challenges in terms of climate change and local disaster risk management.
By Matthias Kokorsch, Academic Director of Coastal Communities and Regional Development Program, University Centre of the Westfjords
Jóhanna Gísladóttir, Assistant Professor, Agricultural University of Iceland
For Iceland, adapting to natural hazards such as avalanches has become a pressing concern. The Climate Change Resilience in Small Communities in the Nordic Countries (CliCNord) project has played an important role in addressing these challenges, offering a model for capacity building that blends academic research, community engagement, and cross-cultural learning.
Through collaboration with communities, universities, and government institutions, CliCNord facilitated knowledge exchange at local and international levels. Our Master-level courses benefited directly from the project, incorporating real-world case studies and innovative methods into the curriculum. The developed teaching materials enriched students’ learning experiences and helped future researchers and planners understand the complex dynamics of climate resilience in small communities. Visiting schools from outside Iceland also engaged with the project, which provided international students with valuable insights into climate change adaptation and resilience strategies.
In our Icelandic case studies, we engaged local communities through innovative and inclusive methods. We used tools like scenario building workshops, photo-voice exercises, and digital walking interviews to ensure broad participation. These methods allowed us to capture the voices of the residents by blending their lived experiences with academic insights to answer the overall research question: “How can capacity building in small rural communities be increased to meet the effects of climate change, involving the competencies and resources among the citizens, and by new ways of organizing support and assistance from authorities, civil society organizations, politicians, and the public?” Importantly, we also integrated students in the research process, giving them hands-on experience and a meaningful way to contribute to local disaster risk management.
We focused on two communities that had faced devastating avalanches in 1983, 1995 and 2020. Our research revealed that memory – whether communicative, collective, or cultural – plays a critical role in how communities perceive and respond to natural hazards. The stories passed down through generations helped keep memories of past avalanches alive, but they also highlighted the need to include newcomers in emergency planning, with emphasis on those with a foreign background.
Residents’ strong place attachment – their deep emotional connection to their home – proved to be both a strength and a challenge. On one hand, it fostered community engagement and willingness to volunteer during emergencies. On the other hand, it sometimes led people to underestimate the risks they faced.
Communities can also face stigmatization when the identity of their community is tied to a single tragic event. This narrow perception can overshadow their strengths and resilience and further accelerate outmigration processes. Overcoming this requires emphasizing a broader, more diverse narrative of community identities.
Drawing from our findings, we outlined several key recommendations for enhancing climate resilience and disaster risk management in small and remote Icelandic communities. First and foremost, Iceland needs to review its heavy and unsustainable reliance on volunteer emergency responders to ensure that volunteer resources do not experience burnout. Small villages often lack sufficient funding or personnel for essential services, leading to an increased reliance on volunteer labor. In addition, many villages experience “forced volunteerism” where community members, especially in close-knit communities, feel obligated to participate in volunteer activities or contribute to local initiatives – not out of genuine desire but due to social pressure or cultural expectations. This pressure can lead to stress, resentment, and a sense of loss of personal agency among community members.
Raising awareness and better integration is another key aspect. Clear communication about potential risks is essential, especially for newcomers and foreign visitors who may be unaware of local hazards. Iceland should also improve its early warning systems and develop more reliable and proactive alert systems to warn residents of imminent danger. To avoid delays in building protective infrastructure, the national government should fully fund avalanche barriers rather than rely partly on local municipalities with limited budgets.
By bridging the gap between academic research and community action, CliCNord has demonstrated that effective climate adaptation is not just about policies and infrastructure. It is also about people: their memories, their connections to places, and their willingness to learn and adapt together. With the findings from this project, we can not only support the communities involved but also educate the next generation of researchers and community developers.
Photo: Jóhanna Gísladóttir
