The Arctic Circle Podcast

Have you ever wondered why snow is so central to the Arctic environment? Joining the conversation are: Barbara Frigo , Professor, Politecnico di Torino, Italy David Cappelletti , Professor, Università di Perugia, Italy Claudio Artoni , PhD student, Università Bicocca, Italy The Session is moderated by Andrea Spolaor , Professor at the Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy...

How does Russian propaganda and disinformation impact the Arctic environment, its communities, and the world's understanding of the region? Joining the conversation are: Ksenia Vakhrusheva , Bellona Foundation, Bulgaria Andrey Danilov , Sami Activist and Member of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia Benjamin Shultz , Lead Researcher at the American Sunlight Project, Ge...

How can the example of collaboration across Italian institutions and with international partners help strengthen Arctic policy and advance scientific cooperation in one of the world’s most critical regions? Joining the conversation is Antonio Tajani , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy. This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026....

What contributions can non-Arctic states make to the Arctic region and to the people living in the North across science, innovation, diplomacy, and security? Joining the conversation are: Volker Rachold , Head of the German Arctic Office, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Agostino Pinna , Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy Claire Buckley , Ambas...

How is indigenous sovereignty articulated within national, regional, and international legal frameworks in the Arctic? Joining the conversation are: Mona Fortier , Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Sara Olsvig , International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Jessica Veldstra , Executive Director of the Aleut International Association Federico Lenzerini , Pr...

Why is the Arctic gaining political relevance on the world stage? What threats and opportunities are consolidating and emerging, and how do Arctic dynamics interconnect with the rest of the world? Joining the conversation are: Claude Véron-Réville , EU Special Envoy for Arctic Matters Agostino Pinna , Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy Kenneth Høegh , Arctic Ambassa...

As interest in Arctic resources grows, so do the questions surrounding their extraction: who benefits, who bears the risks, and what are the security implications of opening the Arctic to mining? Joining the conversation are: Rachael Lorna Johnstone , Professor, University of Akureyri, Iceland Anna Karlsdóttir , Associate Professor, University of Iceland Alexandra Middleton , Assistant Professor,...

What is the current status of indigenous rights and self-determination in the Arctic? And where must progress move faster, particularly when it comes to climate change and its devastating impact on indigenous communities? Joining the conversation are: Sara Olsvig , International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Jessica Veldstra , Executive Director of the Aleut International Association Per-...

How does the European Union position itself in the Arctic? And what is its role in keeping the region safe and stable, promoting international cooperation, and supporting sustainable and inclusive development? Joining the conversation is Costas Kadis , Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans of the European Commission. The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and...

Is geoengineering going to save the world or risk precipitating further climate crises by interfering with nature? And what international frameworks are needed to ensure it is both responsibly governed and genuinely useful? Joining the conversation are: Dalee Sambo Dorough , Senior Scholar at the University of Alaska Anchorage Shaun Fitzgerald , Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the Uni...

What is Finland's perspective and role amidst the evolving security dynamics in the Arctic? And how is Finland approaching the twin challenges of climate change and the pursuit of sustainable solutions in the region? Joining the conversation is Elina Valtonen , Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former Pre...

In what ways is connectivity fundamental for development and prosperity in the Arctic region? Joining the conversation are: Sanni N. Breining , Chief Economist at Ramboll Consulting, Denmark Tómas Ingason , Chief Commercial Officer at Icelandair Jóhanna á Bergi, CEO of Atlantic Airways Nauja Bianco , Member of the Board of Directors of Greenland Resources Inc., Canada, and Director of Isuma Consul...

How can we effectively foster international cooperation in studying the ice-covered parts of the world, from the Arctic and Antarctic to the glaciers of the Himalayas? Joining the conversation is Senator Musadik Masood Malik , Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination of Pakistan. The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former Pres...

How do we chart a way forward to tackle the defining challenges facing the Arctic Ocean, one of the most fragile and contested regions on Earth? Joining the conversation are: Ambassador Peter Thomson , United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Ambassador Olivier Poivre d'Arvor , Special Envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron for Oceans and Poles Louie Porta , Dire...

What are the positions of Canada, Norway, and Greenland in the Arctic? And how are each navigating the region's rapidly changing political, strategic, and environmental dynamics? Joining the conversation are: Vivian Motzfeldt , then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland Mona Fortier , Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Eivind Vad Petersson ,...

How can we innovate in the Arctic? Why is this region uniquely positioned to drive innovation? And what does the future hold for Arctic entrepreneurship and technology? Joining the conversation are: Vince Payne , Vice President of Business Development at C-Core, Canada William Tasney , CEO of Scale42, UK Andrey Mineev , Project Leader at the Arctic Business Index and Researcher at Nord University,...

What is the role of Greenland in the Arctic and the world? And how are the region’s rapidly shifting dynamics creating both new opportunities and new responsibilities for Greenland and its partners? Joining the conversation is Vivian Motzfeldt , then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland. This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held Marc...

What is the role and responsibility of Indigenous knowledge in Arctic research? And how can platforms and frameworks foster genuine, respectful collaboration between Indigenous and Western knowledge systems? Joining the conversation are: Malene Simon Hegelund , Senior Scientist at the Greenland Climate Research Centre Qillaq Danielsen , Indigenous Hunter from Qaanaaq, Greenland Olennguaq Kristense...

What is the United States’ vision in and for the Arctic and why has the region become central to U.S. security in recent years? Joining the conversation are: Thomas E. Dans , Chair, United States Arctic Research Commission (USARC); and David Balton , Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative, and Former U.S. Ambassador. The Session is moderated by Katrín Jakobsdóttir , Chair...

How can science and business work together to bring meaningful solutions to the challenges facing the Arctic and the world? The conversation is introduced by H.E. Mariam Almheiri , Chair of the Emirates Polar Program Steering Committee and Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court, and continues with a panel discussion featuring: Aisha Al Suwaidi , Associate Professor...

How is the triple planetary crisis affecting the Arctic and the rest of the world? And how can the Arctic take a leadership role in tackling these global challenges? The conversation is introduced by Andrea Hinwood, Chief Scientist at the United Nations Environment Programme, and continues with a panel discussion featuring: Diana Ürge-Vorsatz , Vice-Chair of the IPCC; Sara Olsvig , International C...

What is the present and future of Arctic investment? Joining the conversation are: Jeanette Vitasp , CFA, Vice President, and Head of Lending at the Nordic Investment Bank; Benedikt Gíslason , CEO of Arion Bank. The Session is moderated by Friðrika Geirsdóttir, Director of the Arctic Circle Business Forum. This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Business Forum, held October 16th to...

What is Italy’s connection, role, and engagement in the Arctic across research, science, diplomacy, security, and education? The session is introduced by Ásgerður Ólöf Ásgeirsdóttir, Managing Director of Arctic Circle, and continues with a speech by Isabella Rauti , Deputy Minister at the Italian Ministry of Defence, introducing the Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue, taking place on March...

How can business know-how and Indigenous knowledge be combined to create better solutions, taking the Canadian Arctic as an example? Joining the conversation are: Ethan Lavallée , Business Development Officer at Da Daghay Development Corporation (DDDC), Canada; Benjamin Scott , Director of EntrepreNorth and Chairperson of Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation, Canada; Xina Cowan , Co-Director of Entrepre...

What are the key priorities for the 5th International Polar Year, 2032–33? And why is this process so crucial for the polar regions and the world? Joining the conversation are: Herb Nakimayak , Vice Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council International and President of Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada; Salvatore Aricò , Chief Executive Officer of the International Science Council; Amanda Lynch , Ch...