Among the 200 participants were well-known scientists, young researchers, representatives of Arctic non-governmental organizations, and administrative departments.
Jennifer Spence, Executive Secretary, Sustainable Development Working Group introduced heads and representatatives of Arctic innovation energy projects such as AHEAD-Snowflake, Smart Senja, Akureyri and Old Crow. She noted the importance of green energy development in the Arctic regions.
«These projects being presented are highlighting a spectrum of examples, across different scales and in different geographies, to illustrate the diversity and innovation that exists», said Jennifer Spence.
During the conference, AHEAD leaders answered a lot of questions related to the future development of infrastructure and the hosted region, interaction with indigenous people, planned investments, and opportunities for specialists from different spheres to join the AHEAD project despite the geographical location. The head of the AHEAD and Norwegian partners pointed out the project’s uniqueness for international cooperation in the Arctic and emphasized their openness to various forms of cooperation.
To discuss the AHEAD project in more detail and to find new ideas and solutions for the Snowflake station, Oskar Njaa and Yury Vsiliev announced an open online partner meeting on November 2, 2020 at 10:30 (ET) and invited all participants to join.
To join the meeting on November 2, please register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EcPPJlRvQpKFnL6dBGgSCg
After the presentation of all the projects, Kristín Linda Árnadóttir, Chair of the Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Chief Dana Tizya-Tram, Vuntut Gwitchin Government, Old Crow summed up the “Renewable energy” session. Kristín Linda Árnadóttir and Chief Dana Tizya-Tram pointed out the needed transformation and focus on renewable energy sources in the Arctic because these are not only important factors for the Arctic's sustainable development but are also highly influential upon health, food security, etc. Additionally, Kristín Linda Árnadóttir noted an impotency of policy makers’ decisions and our understanding of the needed development of current and other innovative energy projects in the Arctic.
A recording of the session is available on the SDWG website.
The Arctic Resilience Forum 2020 is hosted by the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and co-organized by the Sustainable Development Working Group of the Arctic Council and the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center.
Arctic Resilience Forum weekly schedule:
The Arctic Resilience Forum is convened every Wednesday from 11:30am – 1:00pm (GMT)
October 7: Indigenous Youth Leadership
October 14: Food Security
October 21: Renewable Energy
October 28: Human Health and Pandemics
November 11: Broadband Connectivity
November 18: Gender
November 25: Socio-Ecological Resilience
December 9: Infrastructure
December 16: Working Together in the Arctic: Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems
More information:
https://www.belfercenter.org/event/arctic-resilience-forum
https://sdwg.org/what-we-do/projects/arctic-resilience-forum-2020/