Arctic lecture series – Voices from the Arctic was organised online in December 2024. The objective of the lecture series was to disseminate the research work carried out by ACAF project team members, covering the various issues concerning the Arctic region. See presentations from the lectures belows.
The future of Arctic tourism
Research professor Seija Tuulentie (Natural Resources Institute Finland) presented on the topic of the future of tourism in the Arctic region. Ever growing, tourism offers both opportunities and challenges to the local communities and natural environments in the Arctic. To be socio-ecologically sustainable, tourism requires structures of management and inclusion of local communities in the shaping of those structures. This lecture includes a dialogue with Mereditch Chuzel, Marketing, Communication and Community Manager for Nordic Odyssey in Rovaniemi, Lapland.
See Seija’s presentation here: Tuulentie_Future of Arctic Tourism ACAF_03122024
Recording of the lecture soon available on Youtube.
Water, food and energy nexus in the Arctic
Professor David Natcher (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada) discussed the water, food and energy insecurities in the Arctic, worsened by the climate change. He discussed the connections between these different systems and the trade-offs between them. Often focusing solely on one system, for instance food security, in isolation from water and energy systems, worsens the conditions. In particular, the lecture shed light on the differences and overlaps between nexus thinking and nexus doing and highlighted the importance of place-based solutions. This lecture includes a dialogue between David and John Kettle, Director for Customer Solutions and International Relationships and Senior Customer Manager at the Natural Resources Institute Finland.
David’s presentation will soon be uploaded here.
Recording of the lecture soon available on Youtube.
Youth voices from the Arctic
Senior scientist and ACAF project coordinator Jaana Sorvali (Natural Resources Institute Finland) presented on the voices of young people in the Arctic region. Based on research work done in the ACAF project, including various workshops and interviews with university students in northern Finland, Sweden and Norway, she highlighted how there is a gap in academic knowledge concerning youth views on climate change in the Arctic region. Young people in the Arctic region view climate change as a great threat to the region: Arctic is a special place that should be protected and many of them felt like the national governments are not doing enough to do so. In relation to climate change, young university students felt firstly anger (frustration and disappointment), secondly fear (worry and powerlessness), thirdly positivity (hope, interest and inspiration – often in relation to another emotion such as fear), and fourthly sadness (guilt, grief, loss, and shame). This lecture includes a presentation by and dialogue with Ronja Wedegärtner (WWF, Youth Together for Arctic Futures project).
See Jaana’s presentation here: Sorvali_Lecture_series_17.12.2024
Recording of the lecture soon available on Youtube.
Cultural effects of climate change to Saami people
Saami researcher Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi (University of Helsinki, Finland) presented on the topic of cultural effects of climate change to Saami people. This lecture was in dialogue with Antti-Oula Juuso, a member of the Saami Climate Council in Finland.
See Klemetti’s presentation here: KN lecture 12122024
This lecture was not recorded.