Panel:

• Rev. Thore Johnson, former General Secretary of Sami Council in Norway
• Pauliina Kainulainen, PhD., Eco Theologist, Finland
• Frances Namoumou, The Coordinator Pacific Conference of Churches Stewardship Program/Member of the Gender and Climate Justice Movement in Fjii and the Region
• Archpriest. Michael Oleksa, J. Alaska

Chair:

Rev. Henrik Grape, Coordinator of the WCC Working Group on Climate Change

Speaker

• Øyvind Fylling-Jensen, CEO – Managing Director NOFIMA: Sustainably exploiting the arctic marine potential
• Halfdán Helga Helgason, Project Coordinator, Seatrack, Norwegian Polar Institute: SEATRACK – Large Scale Seabird Tracking in the Northeast Atlantic
• Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir, professor University of Iceland, Háskólasetrið á Svalbarða (University Centre in Svalbard): Adaptive long-term research in the face of the climate change
• Tore Henriksen, Professor, UIT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø: Regulating Arctic Shipping: Political, legal, technological and environmental Challenges
• Jennifer Stien, Researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA): Reindeerherding, challenges and opportunities

Chair

• Jo Jorem Aarseth, Research Coordinator at the Fram Centre

Speakers:

• Beatrice Lempaira, Conservationist, Conservation International, Africa - Kenya Massai nomadic herding
• Hindou Ibrahim, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, Chad
• Cristelle Pratt, Fiji
• Prasert Trakansuphakon, Karen elder from Thailand, Conservationist, Conservation International: Asia - Rotational agriculture

Chair:

Kristen Walker, Vice-president, Conservation International Policy Center for Environment and Peace

Friday, October 13, 16:15 - 17:45
Location: Norðurljós, Second Level

In this session twelve talents will present their ideas in short pitch form. Topics will cover a wide range of issues including empowering arctic communities, reducing pollution, and developing new models for marine conservation. After the pitches, audience members will have the chance to join a roundtable breakout discussion to discuss the idea of their choice, and will vote to choose the winning pitch. The goal of the Arctic Innovation Lab is to connect a new generation of leaders with experienced practitioners and encourage innovative solutions for the fast changing Arctic region.

Introductions: 

• John Holdren, Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and former Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Fellow and Co-Founder, Arctic Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Presentations:

• Gabrielle Scrimshaw, MPA Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Indigenous Leadership for Arctic Tourism
• Mauricio Latapi, PhD Candidate, University of Iceland: Does Iceland Dream of Electric Shipping?
• Morgan Brown, MPA Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Identity and Adaptation: Food Production and Climate Change
• Vanessa DiDomenico, MALD Candidate, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University: Navigating Vessels Through Compliance
• Evelyn Gunawan, MSc Candidate, Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik University: Zero-Waste Arctic Communities
• Charlotte McEwen, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Using Drones to Support Remote Arctic Communities
• Martina Muller, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Protecting Marine Biodiversity through Subnational Action
• Tukumminnguaq Nykjær Olsen, MA Candidate, University of Greenland: Innovation is About Inclusion: Lets Make the Arctic Inclusive
• Anja Kathrin Ruess, MSc Candidate, Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik University: Deliberative Decision Making in the Arctic
• Meredith Davis Tavera, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Knowing Your Value: Successfully Negotiating for the Interests of Arctic Communities
• Ziad Reslan, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government: Digital Jobs, Not Handouts!
• Ryan Uljua, MALD Candidate, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University: An Arctic Investment 

Chair:

Cole Wheeler, MPP Candidate, Harvard Kennedy School of Government 

Friday, October 13, 16:15 - 17:45
Location: Háaloft, Eighth Level

In spite of this, there in the Arctic is high geopolitical stability based on resilient international and interregional cooperation between the Arctic states and globally, which is a precondition for environmental protection, sustainable development and regional security. If the Arctic became ‘militarized’ in the Cold War, the post-Cold War security nexus of the Arctic is ‘environmentalized’ by growing concern on the environment. This session will discuss on the military policies and defense strategies of the Russian Federation and the U.S.A. the post-Cold War Arctic, and modernization of them. It will also discuss comprehensive and regional security via border management.

Speakers:

• Michael T. Corgan, Associate professor, Pardee School at Boston University: America First or Arctic first: Changing US Priorities for the Arctic
• Nikita Lomagin, Professor, European University in St. Petersburg: Russia's Security-Policy in the Arctic
• Alexander Sergunin, Professor, St. Petersburg State University: The Changing Role of Military Power in the High North
• Karen Everett, PhD Candidate, Trent University, Ontario: North American Arctic Border Management as a Strategy for Comprehensive Regional Security? 

Moderator:

• Raimo Väyrynen, Professor, University of Lapland

Friday, October 13, 17:45 - 19:15
Location: Ríma B, Ground Level

We will discuss opportunities for growth in maritime industries, across Arctic regions and states. Panelists will come from both academia and industry, with different approaches to the same questions. These include: What is the potential going forward for maritime communities? What are current trends in maritime industries and what are barriers to growth? How do we regulate, govern and secure our use of the blue domain, as activity patterns and climate change? What role do politics and business hold going forward?

Structure: Each speaker is given approx. 3-5 minutes, followed by discussion/ Q&A.

Speakers:

• Odd Jarl Borch, Professor, Nord University Business School: Safety challenges and emergency preparedness gaps in the High North
• Elana Wilson Rowe, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI): Maritime Growth: Politics or Business or both
• Nils Andreassen, Executive Director, Institute of the North: The Alaskan State of the Arctic
• Ida Pinnerød, Mayor, Bodø Municipality: Smart cities in the Arctic: the case of Bodø
• Felix Tschudi, Chairman and Owner Tschudi Group and chairman of Centre of High North Logistics: Arctic shipping
• Alexandra Middleton, Assistant Professor, University of Oulu: Business Index North - How to Measure Growth
• Frode Mellemvik, High North Center, Nord University: Barriers to and opportunities for Arctic Growth
• Andreas Østhagen, Doctoral Research Fellow, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway & PhD-candidate, University of British Columbia, Canada: Cooperation across borders: the maritime dimension

Chair:

Arne O. Holm, Editor in chief, High North News

Friday, October 13, 17:45 - 19:15
Location: Silfurberg A, Second Level

Numerous important types of international actors are shaping the new dynamics in the Arctic such as Arctic and Arctic Council observer states, Indigenous peoples’ organizations, intergovernmental organizations, transnational corporations and state-owned enterprises, and global and regional INGOs and networks (e.g. on the environment, science and education). All these actors and their interests – be it in competition or in collaboration – are determining the current and future governance of the Arctic. The presentations of this breakout session will focus on interests and activities by these actors, as well as consequences of their activities in the Arctic region.

Speakers:

• Matthias Finger, Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne (EPFL): Resources Curse in the Arctic?
• Hanna Katriina Lappalainen, Secretary General, Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX), University of Helsinki & Finnish Meteorological Institute: System Understanding of the Arctic-boreal Regions for Constructing Scenarios and Assessments of the Future Development of the Northern Eurasian Environments and Societies
• Natalia Kukarenko, Associate professor, Northern (Arctic) Federal University, Arkhangelsk: Ecological Security and Local Politicians’ Role in Informing Arctic Communities on Pollution: the Case of the Arkhangelsk Region
• Jussi Huotari, PhD Candidate, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki: The Nexus of Energy, Environment and Economic Security in Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Projects in the Barents Sea
• Nikita Lomagin, Professor, European University in St. Petersburg: Russia's Oil and Gas Companies' Plans in the Arctic and Environmental Security

Moderator:

• Lassi Heininen, Professor, University of Lapland

Friday, October 13, 16:15 - 17:45

Location: Ríma A, Ground Level

The talk will offer an original format whereby one Quebec and one international expert will team up to each present their own synopsis of a particular development challenge. This engaging format will provide an opportunity for inspiring dialogue as they share examples of some of the successful formulas employed worldwide in such vast social undertakings. The scientific challenges that will be addressed this year include energy, biofood, and environmental protection. There will also be a recap of the Fourth Arctic Circle Forum, which was held in Québec City under the theme Sustainable Development in Northern Regions: an Integrated and Partnership-based Approach and presented the unique model of Québec’s Plan Nord.

Speakers:

• Robert Sauvé, President and CEO, Société du Plan Nord of Québec: Québec Arctic Forum Synthesis; Québec Northern governance: a model?
• Louis Fortier, Scientific director and innovation of Institut nordique du Québec (INQ), Université Laval, Québec: Northern Sustainable Development : a scientific perspective
• Jasmin Raymond, INQ-INRS Chairhollder on Northern Geothermal Potential Research, Québec: Are geothermal technologies a solution to energy challenges faced in Nunavik?
• Juliet Newson, Director, Iceland School of Energy, Reykjavik University: The challenges of geothermal energy in Iceland
• Murray Humphriesm, INQ-McGill Chairholder in Northern Research-Wildlife Conservation and Tradional Food Security, Québec: The traditional food systems of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America
• Gert Mulvad MD, GP, Doctor h.c., Greenland Center for Health Research, Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland: Traditional Food, Benefit/Risk communication in Artic communities
• Adamie Delisle Alaku, Vice-president, Renewable Resources, Makivik Corporation, Québec: Nunavik Park Model

Moderator:

• Maryse Lassonde, Scientific Director of the Québec Nature and Technology Research Fund

Friday, October 13, 16:15 - 17:45
Location: Akrafjall, Fourth Level

We can utilize science diplomacy to smooth a particularly tricky political situation, and importantly scientific knowledge can provide a conduit to ensure local communities, politicians and policy-makers, as well as industry leaders and the public, have the most up-to-date and robust information available. Easy access of this type of knowledge is exactly what is needed for effective decision making on sustainable development.
Within this session experts will provide a short overview of three climate change induced challenges for the Arctic environment:

1. Thawing permafrost and the risk of depleting habitats and damaged infrastructure;
2. The melting of the Greenlandic ice sheet and a rising sea level;
3. The emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (such as black carbon and methane) and their contribution to an accelerated climate change.

Additionally, we will hear from experts their views on the responsibility of the space agencies to address these challenges, as well as the importance of the co-production of knowledge with local communities to ensure sustainable development within the Arctic and beyond.
These six experts will give brief introductions to these topics and subsequently open the floor for an interactive discussion focused around the following question:
How can the complex scientific issues associated with Arctic change, with all its implications, be summarised to better inform policy makers and facilitate sustainable development of the Arctic.

Speakers: 

• Lene Kielsen Holm, Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland. Scientist and project leader: Sustainability and environmental pressures on Arctic communities
• Hanne Christiansen, The University Centre in Svalbard, Norway, President, International Permafrost Association: Permafrost expert: Thawing permafrost and its impact on Arctic landscapes and infrastructures
• Jonathan Bamber, University of Bristol, UK, President, European Geosciences Union: Ice sheet expert: The melting of the Greenlandic ice sheet and its contribution to global sea level rise
• Daniela Domeisen, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany: Improved predictions for safeguarding Arctic development
• Rene Forsberg, Danish Technical University-Space: The role of satellite observations in monitoring the Arctic
• Kaarle Kupiainen, Finnish Environment Institute, co-chair of the AMAP EG on short-lived climate pollutants: Emissions and mitigation options for short-lived climate pollutants

Chair:

• Jeremy Wilkinson, British Antarctic Survey, Coordinator of EU project ICE-ARC.

Friday, October 13, 16:25 - 17:55

Location: Hafnarkot, Ground Level

Tourism can provide many direct benefits for tourists, destinations, and destination residents, and many indirect benefits for natural resource protection, cultural sustainability, and global society. Paradoxically, tourism can also damage the quality of natural resources, jeopardize the integrity of cultures, and endanger tourists and community members.

Whether tourism will be a pillar of or impediment to sustainability in the Arctic depends in large part on the actors participating in Arctic tourism management and administration and the actions they take. Actors in Arctic tourism are many and varied, including destination and natural resource managers, governmental and non-governmental administrators, community residents, tourism operators, emergency responders, scientists, and tourists themselves. Each of these actors has different, and potentially conflicting, perspective on and interests in tourism.

Understanding these perspectives and interests, and particularly their intersection and divergence is necessary to formulate and implement effective tourism policy. This session will critically consider the motivations and perspectives of diverse marine and coastal Arctic tourism actors and examine the different rhetoric and frames that these actors use to communicate and advance their perspectives.

This session will accomplish the following objectives:

• Provide a broad, multi-faceted, and coherent picture of Arctic and high- latitude marine and coastal tourism.
• Account for the social and environmental factors associated with managing Arctic and high-latitude marine and coastal tourism.
• Produce a concrete description of Arctic marine and coastal tourism actors, motivations, and action
• Demonstrate the application of discourse analysis for solving socio- environmental sustainability problems.
• Addresstheneedforsustainabletourismdevelopmentandresponsible tourism practices in Arctic coastal communities and seascapes.

Panelist:

• Auður Ingólfsdóttir, Rannsóknamiðstöð Ferðamála (Icelandic Tourism Research Center): Links between climate change, human security and sustainable marine and coastal tourism an Icelandic perspective
• Frigg Jørgensen (Invited), Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators -
• Jessica Shadian, Arctic 360: Tourism search and rescue financing and community participation
• Rebecca Pincus, US Coast Guard Academy: Emergency response, international relation, and security for maritime and coastal tourism
• Sergey Shirokiy, World Commission on Protected Areas: Ecological and cultural issues, opportunities, and constraints in high-latitude tourism
• Wilfred Richard, Uummannaq Polar Institute & Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center: Institutional and community dimensions of Arctic Tourism

Moderators: 

• Edward Huijbens, University of Akureyri
• Guðrun Þora Gunnarsdóttir, Icelandic Tourism Research Center
• Nathan Reigner, Tourism consultant

Friday, October 13, 17:55 - 19:25
Location: Flói, Ground Level

Speakers:

• Olav Schram Stokke, University of Oslo and Fridtjof Nansen Institute: Norway’s Institutional means for managing high-seas fisheries in the Arctic
• Birkir Bárðarson, Marine biologist, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Reykjavik: Capelin and other pealgic fish stocks under changing environmental conditions - Icelandic perspective
• Hyoung Chul Shin, Director, Division of Strategy and Cooperation, Korea Polar Research Institute and Young-Kil Park, Head, Polar Policy Research Center, Korea Maritime Institute: The Central Arctic Ocean Challenge: Scientific Opportunities and Governance Connections

Chairs: 

• Jong-Deog Kim, Director General of Industry Intelligence and Strategy Research Division, Korea Maritime Institute
• Geir Hønneland, Director, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

Friday, October 13, 16:25 - 17:55

Location: Kaldalón, Ground Level

The analysis will focus on business development cases to be scaled to other themes and geographical areas and aims at representing important practical lessons learned for other companies.

NCM and AEC wish to present and test preliminary findings of the analysis. The ambition is to discuss conditions for business in the Arctic with a range of stakeholders in the field of business development and investments. By having an open and interactive breakout session the objective is to solicit feedback on the findings of the “Arctic Business Analysis” and generate discussions on identifying best practices and solutions on Nordic Arctic business development, innovation and entrepreneurship that could also be applicable on a pan-Arctic level.

Speakers: 

• Nauja Bianco, Nordic Council of Ministers: Welcome and introduction – “The change agents of tomorrow – Promoting a pan-Arctic business community through Nordic facilitation”
• Jakob Wichmann, CEO and Co-founder, Voluntas Advisory: Presentation of preliminary findings of the Arctic Business Analysis
• Mikhail Pogodaev, Chair, Association of World Reindeer Herders, Director of The Northern Forum: Indigenous people’s perspective on business development in the Arctic

Case discussions:

• Robert Gudfinnsson, CEO of Genis, entrepreneur and investor (Iceland): How to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the Arctic region
• Stephen Hart, Head of Office, European Investment Bank: Financing business development and investments in the Nordic Arctic – opportunities and demand
• Thomas Westergaard, Senior Vice President, Hurtigruten: Tourism as an enabler of business development in the Arctic
• Liv La Cour Belling, Project Coordinator, Secretariat for the Nordic Council of Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture, Food and Forestry: Arctic’s bio-economy as a stepping stone for growth in the Arctic
• Tero Vauraste, Chair of the Arctic Economic Council, President and CEO of Arctia Ltd: How to move the business development agenda in the Arctic forward

Chair:

Voluntas Advisory and Confederation of Danish Industry

Friday, October 13, 16:25 - 17:55
Location: Stemma, Ground Level

Younger generations are playing an important role in addressing these challenges. Arctic youth programs exist in many forms and with many purposes, but all of these Arctic youth programs involve a group of knowledgeable youth from across the region who understand the Arctic and its people and can explain it from a youth perspective for their peers across the Arctic and others around the world.

Speakers

• Tom Barry, CAFF Executive Secretary: Overview of CAFF education and youth engagement program
• "Nomadic reindeer herders"
  • Alena Gerasimova, Association of World Reindeer Herders
  • Svein Mathiesen Association of World Reindeer Herders:
• Jeehye Kim, Korean Arctic Academy: “South Korea’s Engagement with Future Generations for a Sustainable Arctic”
• Gina Goh, Republic of Singapore, representing a number of Arctic youth programs in Singapore [still awaiting title of presentation]
• Maka Monture, Youth Programs Fellow, U.S. Arctic Youth Ambassador Program

ARCTIC YOUTH AMBASSADORS:
Perspectives for Successful Youth involvement on Arctic Sustainability

• Macy Kenworthy (US Arctic Youth Ambassador Program)
• Cade Terada (US Arctic Youth Ambassador Program)
• Alejandro Soto (US Arctic Youth Ambassador Program)
• Alliana Salanguit (US Arctic Youth Ambassador Program)
• Bobbie McNeley (Aleut International)

Chair:

Gilbert Castellanos, U.S. Head of Delegation to the CAFF Working Group, U.S. Department of the Interior

Friday, October 13, 16:25 – 17:55

Location: Esja, Fifth Level

The forum will take place on October 12th 2017 at University of Iceland, just prior to Arctic Circle.

The session will be structured according to the focus areas of the researcher forum, with five presentations on the role of the Nordic Universities in relation to, what is considered to be five grand challenges in the Arctic.

Speakers:

• Per Michael, Rector Aalborg University, Chair of the board of Nordic Universities Association: Opening remark
• Anne Husebekk, Rector UiT, Tromsø University: Sustainable business development
• Timo Koivurova, Director of Arctic Centre in Finland, University of Lapland: Climate and environmental protection
• Lill Rastad Bjørst, Research Coordinator, AAU Arctic: Robust and independent welfare communities
• Anne Merrild Hansen, Ilisimatusarfik, Professor at Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland: Education and cooperation

Chair:

Henrik Halkjær, Dean of the faculty of Humanities at Aalborg University and head of the board of AAU Arctic