Speakers

• Ásgeir Pálsson, Director of Air Navigation Services, Isavia
• Lars H. Hansen, Captain in the Royal Danish Navy representing the Commander in Chief, Joint Arctic Command

Chairs

• Hallgrímur Jónasson, Director, RANNÍS
• Zhu Jiangang, Deputy Director, PRIC

Speakers

• Yang Huigen, Director General, PRIC
• Hu Hongqiao, Head of Atmosphere and Space Physics Division, PRIC
• Gunnlaugur Björnsson, Research Scientist, Science Institute, University of Iceland
• Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, Senior Adviser, RANNÍS
• Halldór Jóhannsson, Director, Arctic Portal
• Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, Director, Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network

Both deposits will become increasingly accessible thanks to global warming. In addition, such global warming will also lead to fish migrating North, making the Arctic an attractive fishing ground. This breakout session will try to assess the likely dynamics of Arctic resources becoming more accessible as the combined result of the following:

1. Global warming
2. Global demand for such resources
3. Costs of their commercial exploitation
4. Political conditions allowing for this to happen

Speakers:

• Gerald Zojer, PhD Candidate, University of Lapland: Arctic Governance Under the Influence of a Global Fossil-Industrial Way of Life
• Florian Vidal, PhD Candidate, University of Paris Descartes: Energy Nexus and Climate Change in the Arctic
• Erica M. Dingman, Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute; Director, Arctic in Context Initiative: Into the Future: The Confluence of Arctic Warming and Energy Demand
• Hanna Lempinen, Researcher, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland, Finland: (Human) Security or (Social) Sustainability? - Perspectives to and from the Arctic Energyscape
• Teemu Palosaari, Post-doctoral Researcher, Tampere Peace Research Institute TAPRI, University of Tampere, Finland: The Arctic Paradox (and how to solve it). Oil, Gas and Climate Change Ethics in the Arctic

Chair

Matthias Finger, Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL)

Speakers

• Unnur Brá Konráðsdóttir, President of the West Nordic Council, Member of the Icelandic Parliament
• Dalee Sambo Dorough, Chairperson, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Alaska Anchorage
• Chandrika Nath, Acting Director, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, British Parliament

The FAO defines blue growth as: “as economic growth and social development emanating from living resources of the oceans and inland waters and from related activities in the coastal zones, which minimize environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of living aquatic resources.” An international and interdisciplinary team of researchers is currently exploring various perspectives linked to this concept and this session will bring together a series of talks that all focus on better understanding the definition, dynamics, and mechanisms of blue growth in the context of the Arctic. Specifically, the session will i) clarifying what blue growth is ii) characterize some of the dynamics and mechanics of blue growth and iii) and describe its significance to current ocean governance.  The session will end with a panel discussion.

Speakers:

• Anne Marie Eikeset CEES, University of Oslo: Green Growth Based on Marine Resources: an Introduction to the GreenMAR Project
• Simon A. Levin, Professor Princeton University (video message)
• Thorsten Blenckner, Stockholm Resilience Center: Blue Growth in the context of Arctic Resilience.
• Susa Niiranen, Stockholm Resilience Center: Global Connectivity and Cross-Scale Interactions Create Uncertainty for Blue Growth of Arctic Fisheries
• Matilda Valman, Post-doctoral Researcher, Stockholm Resilience Center: A sea of many colours. Comparing ideas and practices of Blue growth
• Brynhildur Davidsdottir, Professor Environment and Natural Resources, University of Iceland: Governance strategy for Blue Growth; Challenges and Opportunities – the Road Forward

Chair

• Nils Christian Stenseth, Professor CEES University of Oslo.

These new conditions will bring opportunities for Arctic shipping but also challenges for the environment, local communities or raise safety issues due to missing search and rescue facilities. European shipping companies have already used the Northern Sea Route in the last years to transporting cargo from Europe to East Asia and vice versa. There is also growing interest by the tourism industry in using Arctic waters for carrying tourists to Arctic sites along the Northwest and the Northeast Passage.
The session organised by the EU-projects ICE-ARC and EU-PolarNet will address the environmental, social and economic impacts of increased shipping in Arctic waters in relation to different IPCC scenarios and propose necessary actions for developing sustainable Arctic shipping.

Speakers:

• Andrea Tilche, Head of the Climate Action and Earth Observation Unit, Directorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission: Sustainable Development in the Arctic – the New Arctic Policy.
• Kathrin Riemann-Campe, Post-doctoral Scientist, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Alfred Wegener Institute: IPCC AR5: Projections of Arctic Sea Ice Change.
• Johan Gille, Senior Consultant, ECORYS: Current Business Restrictions and Future Opportunities for Arctic Shipping.
• Kathy Law, Director of Research, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux: Current and Future Impacts of Pollution from Arctic Shipping.
• Lawson Brigham, Distinguished Professor of Geography & Arctic Policy, University of Alaska Fairbanks: The IMO Polar Code and Future Arctic Marine Operations.
• Jeremy Wilkinson, Sea Ice Physicist, British Antarctic Survey: Conclusions and Recommendations for Necessary Actions from an ICE-ARC Perspective
• Björn Dahlbäck, Director General, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat: Conclusions and Recommendations for Necessary Actions from an EU-PolarNet Perspective.
• Paolo Ruti, Chief, World Weather Research Programme, World Meteorological Organization: A WMO Research Contribution to Future Arctic: the Year Of Polar Prediction.

This session consist of a series of short presentations addressing what is meant by becoming “carbon neutral”, how this might be achieved and why it is essential. Speakers from a variety of sectors e.g. municipalities, Government Ministries, Universities and regional organizations provide case studies on how their respective bodices are striving to become carbon neutral. The session will conclude with a question and answer session focused on discussing how events such (as the Arctic Circle) and institutions can become carbon neutral.

Speakers

• Sigurður Ingi Friðleifsson, Manager, the Energy Agency of Iceland: Carbon Emissions and Carbon Neutrality.
• Brynhildur Bjarnadóttir, Assistant Professor, University of Akureyri: Carbon Sequestration – Possibilities in the Arctic.
• Hans Jörgen Koch, CEO, Nordic Council of Ministers: A Regional Approach to Carbon Neutrality.
• Hugi Ólafsson, Director, Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources, Iceland: Iceland; Climate and Policies.
• Guðmundur Haukur Sigurðsson, Manager, Akureyri CleanTech: Akureyri – Towards a Carbon-neutral Northern Municipality.
• Albertína Friðbjörg Elíasdóttir, Manager, Eimur: Encouraging Increased Sustainability in the Arctic with Better Utilization of Resources.
• Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector, University of Akureyri: University of Akureyri: The First Carbon-neutral University in the Arctic.
• Brynhildur Pétursdóttir, Member of Parliament: Summary – Why is the Arctic Circle Event not Carbon Neutral?

Geothermal plays a tremendously important role in Iceland´s energy supply and has transformed the country´s economy while simultaneously reducing its CO2 emissions. The direct use of geothermal for heating and food production has a strong potential in Canada´s northern territories as well as in Alaska. Other direct uses such as aquaculture, horticultures, food processing and advanced chemistry are also possibilities. Utilisation of geothermal would provide these Arctic areas with a clean renewable energy source and replacing inefficient and polluting diesel-powered generators that are currently used by many off-the-grid communities. This session will cover direct-use of geothermal for the following: the remote area of Fljót in Northern Iceland, the potential for geothermal direct in Canada´s 175 Aboriginal and Northern off-grid communities, and how geothermal could transform renewable energy access and energy security in Alaska´s remote communities

Speakers:

• Alison Thompson, Chair & Co-Founder, CanGEA: Canada’s 175 Aboriginal and Northern Off-Grid Communities: Geothermal Power, Heat, Greenhouses and Jobs Opportunities.
• George Roe, Adjunct Research Professor, University of Alaska at Fairbanks; Program Manager, Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA), UAF
• Magnús Ólafsson, Senior Geochemist and Project Manager, ÍSOR, Iceland GeoSurvey: Exploration and Sustainable, Cascaded Use of Geothermal in Remote Areas in Iceland

Chair:

• Ágústa Ýr Þorbergsdóttir, Director at NAVIGO ehf.

Ongoing climate change, whose impacts are strongly felt in higher latitudes, adds another powerful dimension to these transformations. This session aims at fostering the dialogue between those who live through and must adapt to the climate-related changes, and those who witness and study them, generally from the outside. It will feature extracts from the documentary film “Sila and the Gatekeepers of the Arctic“, followed by a discussion with its director and producer. Other discussants on the panel will provide additional insights in the changing livelihoods, socioeconomic conditions, and future perspectives of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic. A particular focus will be on how contemporary art creates awareness of the impacts of climate change.

Speakers:

• Corina Gamma, Film director and producer: the Relationship Between People and their Environment
• Aqqaluk Lynge, Consultant, Head of the Inuit Human Rights Centre (Inuit Circumpolar Council, Greenland); former Chair of ICC: Sharing of Information and Knowledge - the Inuit Approach: Indigenous Rights in the Arctic
• Martha Cerny, Curator, Cerny Inuit Collection, Berne-Switzerland: Contemporary Art and Awareness about Climate Change

Chair:

• Yvon Csonka, Professor of Anthropology

This is done through roundtable discussions, collaborative projects and considerable outreach to related parties. In this breakout session, Hafið will present both results of collaborative projects and innovative solutions from members. Technological solutions are the main topic here, wrapping up with a talk on the importance of cross border cooperation in order to fast-track environmental solutions for the ocean.

Speakers:

• Sigríður Ragna Sverrisdóttir, General manager, Hafið
• Þorsteinn Svanur Jónsson, Manager of Business Development, ARK Technology
• Davíð Lúðvíksson, Director – Strategy and innovation, The Federation of Icelandic Industries
• Einar Skaftason, Trawl designer, Hampiðjan

They will discuss their research, pose questions and engage in a multidisciplinary dialogue on the Arctic, including challenges and opportunities the region is facing. Questions posed will include how we can utilize the Arctic responsibly and make it a model for other areas, with respect for life, sustainability and international law. The panel will engage with the audience, inviting questions and comments.

Speakers:

• Erica Hill, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Chair of Social Sciences, University of Alaska Southeast; Fulbright-NSF Arctic Research Scholar at the University of Iceland: The Archaeology of Humans, Animals and Landscapes in Iceland and Alaska.
• Stephanie Grocke, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geology, Smithsonian Institution; Fulbright-NSF Arctic Research Scholar at the University of Iceland: Blasting Through Time: Past & Future Gas Emissions Emitted from Icelandic Volcanoes
• Robert Zierenberg, Professor of Geology, University of California, Davis; Fulbright-NSF Arctic Research Scholar at the University of Iceland: Using Magma as a Low-Carbon Energy Source.
• Bjarni Magnússon, Associate Professor of Law, Reykjavik University; Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar: The United States Entitlement to the Continental Shelf beyond 200 Nautical Miles.
• Anita Parlow, Esq., recently Team Lead to the Woodrow Wilson Polar Initiative’s Polar Code Roundtable, International law; Fulbright-MFA Arctic Scholar at the University of Akureyri, University of Iceland and National Energy Authority, Iceland: Sustainable & Collaborative Practices in Arctic Offshore Petroleum Development.
• Anne Merrild Hansen, Professor at Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland; Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar: Social Impacts of Oil Development in the North American Arctic.
• Gwen Holdmann, Director of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar: How Local Energy Development can Support Sustainable Business Ecosystems.
• Susan Chatwood, Director, Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar: Health System Performance in Circumpolar Regions.
• Greg Poelzer, Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan; Founding Director, International Centre for Northern Governance and Development; Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar: Sovereign Wealth Funds and Sustainable Development in Arctic and Sub-Arctic Communities.

Chair:

• Belinda Theriault, Executive Director, Fulbright Commission Iceland

A number of overarching thrusts frame this discussion. What interests are common to different sectors, regions, and stakeholders? Could interests and resources actually be effectively managed? If so, what practices, authorities, and policies should be involved? This panel builds on insights from previous Arctic Circle panels, aiming to tackle the changing conditions and paths for solutions. Experts from government, industry, academia, science, and NGOs will participate.

Panelists

• Monica Ell-Kanayuk, Deputy Premier, Government of Nunavut
• Jóhann Sigurjónsson, Special Envoy on Ocean Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland
• Tero Vauraste, President and CEO, Arctia Ltd; Vice-Chair, Arctic Economic Council
• Fran Ulmer, Chair, United States Arctic Research Commission; Special Advisor to the U.S. Department of State on Arctic Science and Policy
• Heiðar Guðjonsson, Chairman of the Board, Eykon Energy
• Guðni Jóhannesson, Director General, National Energy Authority of Iceland
• Bill Moomaw, Research Professor and Co-director, Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University; Chief Science Officer, Earthwatch Institute
• Alexander Vylegzhanin, Professor and Director, International Law Programme, Moscow State Institute of International Relations
• Michael Kingston, Maritime Lawyer, DWF Law
• Brigt Dale, Senior Researcher, Nordland Research Institute
• Nils Andreassen, Project Manager, Institute of the North

Chair

• Kathleen Araújo, Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University, and Researcher, Brookhaven National Laboratory

It begins with an examination of the role of the United Nations and selected subsidiary bodies on Polar governance. The rights of indigenous peoples are then addressed. First is an assessment of the implementation of land rights according to ILO Convention 169 in Norwegian law. This is followed by an evaluation of the rights of Sámi children under three key international instruments.

Speakers:

• Bertrand Ramcharan, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: UN Protection of the Polar Regions.
• Øyvind Ravna, Professor of Law, Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø: Is Norway's arrangement with an investigating commission and a land tribunal suited to fulfill its obligations under ILO 169 to the Sámi?
• Tanja Joona, Senior Researcher, University of Lapland: The Rights of Sámi Children in the context of Subjectivity and Identity with special reference to ILO Convention No. 169, the Draft Nordic Saami Convention and UNDRIP.

Chair: 

• Guðmundur Alfreðsson, Professor, University of Akureyri; China University of Political Science and Law

The European Arctic with its approximately 4 million inhabitants and ice-free coastline is very different from what you usually associate with “Arctic.” Cutting-edge research together with favorable geographic and climatic conditions put ocean industries, space and cold climate technologies at the forefront of development. The favorable geographic conditions as well as research driven businesses puts Northern Norway in a unique position.
Cooperation between science, business and politics are important drivers for development, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation within the Barents Euro-Arctic Region and with the European Union.

This session will explore how the inhabitants of the Arctic can develop their own Arctic regions sustainably. At the same time it will highlight regional and multilateral cooperation, the potential of cross-border and cross-sectorial partnerships, and business opportunities in the European Arctic.

Speakers:

• Cecilie Myrseth, Chair of Troms County Government: Carving out the role of regional governments in Arctic development.

• Eirik Sivertsen, MP, Chair of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region: How to include regions in Arctic decision-making.
• Oddgeir Danielsen, Director, Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics: The Barents cooperation and infrastructure development.
• Andreas Østhagen, Senior Fellow, the Artic Institute; PhD-student, University of British Columbia: The EU and the Arctic.
• Anne Husebekk, Rector, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway: Knowledge and cooperation as drivers for development.
• Jan Gunnar Winther, Director, Norwegian Polar Institute: The potential of marine resources and the role of regions, businesses and multilateral cooperation
• Anu Fredrikson, Director, Arctic Economic Council: Sustainable business development.

Chair:

• Arne O. Holm, Executive Editor, High North News

Expanding upon a number of the concerns and issues raised last year, we seek to broaden the agenda of security and highlight that ‘security’ should not just be discussed in terms of ‘states, militaries and power’. Instead, when discussing the Arctic region, security should be broadly conceived. Thus, this panel will not only touch upon great power politics, military power, environmental security and the Arctic, but will also broaden out to discuss historical, cultural and literary perceptions of Arctic security.

Speakers:

• James I. Rogers, Associate Lecturer in International Politics, University of York: Culture, Strategy and Security.
• Caroline Kennedy, Professor of War Studies, Director of the Hull Maritime and Marine Institute: Russia, India and the Arctic.
• Michele Olivier, Reader, School of Politics, Philosophy and International Relations, University of Hull: Indigenous Securities and Insecurities: Environmental Security & Sustainable Development.
• Emma Butcher, AHRC-funded Doctoral Candidate in English Literature, University of Hull: Arctic Security in the Literary and Cultural Imagination.
• Tom Arnbom, Senior Conservation Officer, WWF Sweden: Why We Need a Sustainable Blue Economy in the Arctic.