Arctic Natural Resources: Collaborative Approaches to Sustainability Challenges

Organized by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies and the Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds 17. October 2015

In-depth knowledge and understanding of current and potential future environmental, economic and social conditions is essential in developing a comprehensive view of the Arctic regions as complex dynamic systems within the complex global system. In view of the complexity, the aim of this breakout session is to examine, some of the interests, needs, and concerns of Arctic rights- and stakeholders in finding locally and globally appropriate pathways toward sustainable futures.

The pathways lie between extraction of non-renewable resources and sustainable development approached from global to Arctic perspectives. The session will consider processes of co-design and co-production of knowledge and tools for participatory governance and improved decision-making among different user communities, such as researchers, private companies, civil society, and public decision makers. After five short presentations framing key aspects of the issues, an open discussion among all present will address the issues raised that are relevant for rights- and stakeholders in and beyond the Arctic.

Speakers:

  • William Davies, PhD candidate, Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds
  • Emma Wilson, Associate, Scott Polar Research Institute
  • James Van Alstine, Co-Director, Sustainability Research Institute, University of Leeds
  • Andreas Herber, Deputy of Sea Ice Physics, Alfred Wegener Institute
  • Ralf Brauner, Professor, Jade University for Applied Sciences
  • Alexander Gusev, Research Fellow, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies
  • Paul Shrivastava, Executive Director, Future Earth, Canada
  • Alan Chamberlain, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; Member of the Board of Directors, Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chamber of Mines

Moderator:

  • Carolina Cavazos Guerra, Research Fellow, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies

Rapporteur:

  • Marianne Pascale Flynn, Research Fellow, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies