How climate change is reshaping policing

On 12 February 2026, a book launch for Adapting to Climate Change in Modern Policing: The Rise of the Eco-Cop, written by Dr Anna Matczak, took place at The Hague Humanity Hub. Anna is lecturer-researcher at the Multilevel Regulation research group. The event was organised as a panel discussion during which the author reflected on several key themes of the book.

Anna’s work represents the culmination of a three-year journey that was conceptual, empirical, and deeply collaborative. Dialogical in nature, the book seeks to shape both research and practice agendas by bringing together key scientific literature with the framework of climatisation—previously applied in other research domains—and insights from 23 expert interviews conducted across disciplines and institutions.

Understanding climate change and police work

The book explores the various processes, practices, and events through which the accelerating effects of climate change are transforming—and will continue to transform—police institutions and policing practices worldwide. Its contribution lies in connecting different strands of knowledge and offering a roadmap to address two key questions: how climate change impacts police work, and how it reshapes police organisations and their responses to evolving crime and harm landscapes.

A dialogue with experts

The book launch featured a panel discussion with distinguished experts: Reinhold Gallmetzer (founder of the Centre for Climate Crime Analysis), Abigail Robinson (international security and governance expert), Margo Verbaarschot, and Amir Niknam (Dutch Police). The discussion reflected one of the most rewarding aspects of the research process: engaging with practitioners and scholars working at the intersection of climate governance, security, and policing.

From research to practical action

A key theme emerging from the discussion was that, while the book has been well received, the next step lies in developing more concrete and pragmatic approaches to the topic, both within and outside police organisations. At the same time, climate change and sustainability are increasingly framed within defence and geopolitical debates, which may influence how—and whether—these issues enter police organisations.

The event was co-organised by The Hague Humanity Hub and the research group Multilevel Regulation.

The book Adapting to Climate Change in Modern Policing is available as an open-access publication,