CNDS Forum "Crisis Preparedness in Changing Times — On Natural Disasters and the Total Defence""

The 2026 edition of the CNDS Forum is titled Crisis Preparedness in Changing Times — On Natural Disasters and the Total Defence.

As natural hazards intensify and security threats grow more complex, crisis preparedness must evolve. This conversation centres on how societies can anticipate, absorb and adapt to disruptions ranging from extreme weather events to hybrid threats. It asks what preparedness means today — and how governance, infrastructure and communities together form the foundation of resilience. A key theme is the development of total defence in a changing risk landscape. In the context of Sweden, total defence has re-emerged as a central security concept, linking military and civilian preparedness. Yet formal structures alone are not enough. Effective crisis response depends on coordination across levels of government, clarity of responsibility, and the ability to translate national strategy into local action. Preparedness must be future-oriented, grounded in research, and responsive to emerging climate and security realities.

Another central focus is the resilience of critical infrastructure — transport, energy and water systems that underpin everyday life and societal stability. Climate change increases the frequency and severity of floods, heatwaves and storms, placing new demands on contingency planning. Strengthening infrastructure resilience requires integrating climate risk assessments into long-term investment decisions, designing redundancy and flexibility into systems, and fostering cross-sector collaboration. It also calls for exercises and planning frameworks that connect national risk assessments with municipal implementation and operational practice.

At our Forum we aspire to further discuss and highlight the importance of bridging knowledge and action. Research institutions generate vital insights into risk, adaptation and governance, but these insights must be translated into policy and operational routines. At the same time, practitioners and civil society actors hold experiential knowledge that can inform more grounded and inclusive strategies. Building preparedness is therefore not only a technical task, but also a democratic one: it requires participation, trust and shared responsibility.

Ultimately, resilient societies are built where institutions, infrastructure and communities work in concert. Crisis preparedness in changing times is about more than managing emergencies — it is about cultivating adaptive capacity, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring that both policy and practice are equipped to meet the uncertainties ahead. CNDS Forum invites you to participate in the creation of such paths forward!