The article by Dr Agata Stasik introduces the concept of dual-use social innovations (DUSI), understood as social innovations that simultaneously support climate transition and preparedness for security risks. The central claim is that, instead of treating these goals as a forced exchange of “either one or the other”, it is worth building shared visions of the future that integrate both orders. The author anchors the proposal in the AREA approach (Anticipation, Reflection, Engagement, Action) and outlines a research agenda that moves from diagnosing existing practices, through co-creating frameworks, to implementation tools for communities. The research was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland.
Until recently, many stories about a “sustainable future” were built on an assumption of relative stability. Conflicts and tensions existed in the background, but the dominant belief was in long-term cooperation and in emissions reduction as the priority. Today, with rising geopolitical tensions and accelerating impacts of the climate crisis, that picture is becoming more complex. The author shows that security is no longer a side issue. It is entering the mainstream debate and will shape decisions about resources, policies, and the pace of transition.
Dual use, but social: where the perspective shifts
“Dual use” is usually associated with technologies that have both civilian and military applications. The article proposes a shift in emphasis: not technology as such, but changes in social relations, practices, and institutions. In this framing, DUSI are solutions that strengthen community resilience and preparedness for security risks while also supporting the goals of sustainable transition. The point is that these innovations do not simply “attach” security to climate policy. They reshape how people organize, decide, and share resources, so that a real synergy can emerge.
A shared vision as a condition for action
The text strongly highlights the role of future visions. If social transformation is to happen, different groups need a shared direction, because without it, it is difficult to mobilize funding, capabilities, and political will. The author argues that today we need visions that explicitly include security risks from the outset, rather than treating them as a “disruption” to climate plans. This matters also because otherwise the risk increases that security will crowd out environmental and social goals, narrowing debate and democratic choice.
AREA: four steps for responsible design
To prevent DUSI from becoming a tool for straightforwardly legitimizing security logic at the expense of social values, the article draws on the AREA approach within Responsible Research and Innovation. Anticipation means considering consequences and unintended effects. Reflection is a critical question of whose security is strengthened and whose costs are pushed to the margins. Engagement emphasizes meaningful inclusion of stakeholders, including those who may be overlooked. Action closes the loop, because insights should shape design and implementation, rather than remain an after-the-fact commentary.
An example that works well on the imagination: energy communities
The most tangible example concerns energy communities. They are usually seen as a tool for decarbonization and for strengthening citizen agencies in the energy system. The article shows that, with appropriate design, they can gain a second dimension: preparedness for power outages and the ability to supply critical local infrastructure in crisis situations, whether caused by extreme weather, sabotage, or conflict. In this logic, security does not replace transition. It adds further rationale and strengthens the case for investing in local resources and shared governance.
A research agenda that leads to implementation
The article does not stop at a concept. It proposes a three-stage research agenda: first, identifying and assessing practices that link security and sustainability across contexts; second, co-creating conceptual frameworks with “communities of anticipation”, meaning groups that work with the future in professional and social terms; and third, developing tools that help communities build locally grounded visions and implement DUSI in practice. The author also states a clear condition for success: without mobilizing resources and without a convincing shared vision of a “secure and sustainable future”, many solutions will remain niche initiatives.
Dr Agata Stasik’s research was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, and by NAWA. This context matters, as it signals that integrating security with transition is not only an academic debate, but a topic of public and strategic relevance.
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Based on the article: Futures 176 (2026) 103752 | Agata Stasik | Beyond trade-offs: Dual-use social innovations for secure and sustainable futures
