The Arctic Circle Podcast

In this episode, we discuss how the polar regions serve as bridges connecting Asia with the global community, highlighting collaborative efforts and partnerships that address urgent challenges and drive scientific discovery and innovation. Moderating the session was Loulia AlKhatib, Researcher at the UAE Presidential Court and Emirates Polar Program Secretariat. This conversation was recorded live...

In this episode, we focus on Arctic biodiversity, which supports food security and the livelihoods of Arctic communities. Yet today, with climate change accelerating, these ecosystems are under threat of irreversible loss. Moderating the session was Archana Singh, Scientist D at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, India. This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India...

In this episode, we discuss knowledge exchange between the Arctic and the Hindu-Kush Himalaya. The conversation emphasizes two-way interactions between the regions, and stresses the need for an interdisciplinary network of scholars to study both their commonalities and differences. Moderating the session was Kamrul Hossain, Research Professor at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. This...

In this episode, we look at the role of non-Arctic states in Arctic governance, and how broader shifts in the global order are affecting the region. Moderating the session was Larry Ibrahim Mohammed, PhD Research Scholar at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway and Coordinator of the Afro Polar Initiative. This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on M...

In this episode, we talk about how changes in the Arctic region are influencing Asian climate patterns, including monsoons, and the effects on communities in some of the world’s most populated regions. Moderating the session was Manish Tiwari, Scientist F at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on...

In this episode, we look at the importance of global cooperation in responding to the challenges facing the Arctic. As the region transforms, questions of sustainability, governance, and shared responsibility are becoming central to its future and to the global community. Moderating the Session was Sameer Patil, Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Technology at the Observer Research...

In this episode, we continue our series on the Arctic and the Hindu-Kush Himalaya — this time turning from science to policy and action. What do recent findings mean for decision-making? And how can the concept of a cryosphere corridor guide interregional collaboration between these two vital regions? Moderating the session was Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, Project Advisor at the Ocean Policy Research I...

In this episode, we begin a two-part series on the links between the Arctic and the Hindu-Kush Himalaya. We start with the science: how research in these two regions, together described as a cryosphere corridor, reveals shared challenges of melting ice, water security, and climate change. This episode is introduced by H.E. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue and former P...

In this episode, we look up to the Arctic sky. Connectivity has always been a challenge in the North: for shipping routes, for scientific research, and for the daily lives of Arctic communities. Now, with new ground stations being built in the region, opportunities are opening for advanced Earth observation, for monitoring geomagnetic activity, and with it, new implications for international law i...

In this episode, we explore the growing involvement of the Global South in Arctic research and why it matters.  This session discusses the possibility of creating a Global Arctic Science Policy Initiative as a collaborative research network linking scientific institutions, universities, and think tanks from both the Global North and South. The goal: to strengthen shared understanding and joint res...

In this episode, we turn our attention to how Nordic countries and India are engaging with the questions of blue economy and maritime security in the context of the Arctic and beyond. As Arctic waters open and interest in ocean resources grows, new challenges and opportunities are emerging around sustainable development, marine governance, and strategic cooperation. Moderating the session was Mari...

In this episode, we take a closer look at the United Arab Emirates’ new polar program. As global interest in the Arctic continues to grow, countries beyond the region, including those in the Middle East and South Asia, are stepping up investments in polar science, climate research, and international cooperation. To explore this emerging landscape, the conversation brought together: Ebrahim Al Hajr...

In this episode, we continue our look at the changing Arctic, this time from the perspectives of Arctic and European states. The region is undergoing rapid transformation. While this brings challenges for Arctic communities, it also raises broader questions: about international cooperation, environmental responsibility, and the Arctic’s growing geopolitical and scientific importance. As large part...

In this episode, we look at the Arctic from the perspective of Asia. As the Arctic changes, it’s becoming a space of global concern, not only for the Arctic states, but also for countries around the world. The region is emerging as a new frontier: economically, scientifically, and politically. And with that, new questions are arising around how Arctic and non-Arctic states can work together. So, w...

In this episode, we turn to Arctic biodiversity and planetary health. How have plants, animals, and people adapted to life in the North? And what can those adaptations teach us about resilience in a rapidly changing world? This conversation brings together diverse perspectives: from human physiology and hydrology to ecology and Indigenous health research. You will learn about the plasticity of bio...

In this episode, H.E. Kalistat Lund, then Greenland’s Minister of Agriculture, Self-Sufficiency, Energy, and Environment, discusses opportunities for green energy development in Greenland. This conversation was recorded live at the 2024 Arctic Circle Business Forum, and is part of our new Spotlight series. Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future...

Should we invest in one of the world’s most remote and resource-rich regions? The Arctic has the potential to feed the world with healthy, nutritious seafood, provide the raw materials essential to the sustainable transition, and power societies with both conventional and renewable energy. But unlocking that potential requires closing a massive infrastructure gap. From roads and ports to energy fa...

In this episode, we look at the Arctic as a region in transformation - one that’s evolving due to shifting geopolitics, changing economies, and the growing impact of climate change. A panel of distinguished guests shares their insights on how the strategic imaginary of the Arctic is changing and what new possibilities and political realities are emerging as the world’s attention turns more toward...

In this episode, Milind Deora and Anurag Thakur, Members of the Parliament of India, join H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland, to share their vision for the ice-covered regions of our planet. This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on May 3–4, 2025, and is part of the Polar Dialogue. Arctic Circle is...

In this episode, we reflect on how science diplomacy can bridge divides and build trust across regions. Today’s crises, characterized by rising conflicts, climate change, mass displacement, and growing science denial, are deeply interconnected, with ripple effects felt across the globe, from the Arctic to the Himalaya–Third Pole. In this age of division, collaboration across borders and discipline...

In this episode, H.E. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, joins Samir Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation, and H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland, to discuss India’s engagement in the Arctic. This conversation was recorded live at the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on May 3–4, 2025, and is part of...

In this episode, Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Arctic Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, presents the priorities and mission of the Kingdom of Denmark's chairship of the Arctic Council 2025–2027. He’s joined by Torsten Kjølby Nielsen, Senior Arctic Official of the Kingdom of Denmark, for a Q&A with the audience. This conversation was recorded live at the Arcti...

In this episode, we take you to the opening session of the Arctic Circle India Forum, held in New Delhi on May 3–4, 2025. Kicking off the event were H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson , Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland, and Samir Saran , President of the Observer Research Foundation. The Forum was co-hosted by Arctic Circle and the Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration w...

In this episode, we explore how small, low-impact research platforms are changing the way science is conducted in the polar regions. As research activity in the Arctic grows, so does the need to reduce its environmental footprint—while increasing the value it brings to both the natural world and the communities who call it home. We’ll hear why collaboration between scientists and infrastructure ex...

In this episode, we assess the status of the global energy transition needed to address climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and societies. Joining the discussion are: H.E. Liu Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of the People’s Republic of China Oran Young, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara Sanna Kopra, Research Professor at the Arctic C...