The Arctic Circle Podcast

In this episode we listen to Mininnguaq Kleist, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greenland, speak on Greenland in the New Arctic. This event originally took place at the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly. The speech is followed by a Q&A with the audience, moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland. Arctic Circle is the largest netw...

In this episode we listen to H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland speak at the opening of the 10 year Anniversary of the Arctic Circle Assembly. Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporation...

In this episode we listen to a discussion on geothermal energy as the solution for the heating and cooling of cities.  The Speakers are: H.E. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Iceland; Chairman of Arctic Council 2019-2021 Haukur Harðarson, Chairman and Founder, Arctic Green Energy Eiríkur Bragason, COO Arctic Green Energy Charlotte Zhao, CFO Arctic Green Ene...

In this episode we listen to science and research leaders discuss opportunities for UK contributions to Arctic research.  Opening remarks are provided by Ambassador Julia Longbottom of the British Embassy in Tokyo. The Panelists are: Henry Burgess, Head, UK Arctic Office, British Antarctic Survey Kelly Hogan, British Antarctic Survey Alix Rommel, University of St Andrews Jeremy Wilkinson, British...

In this episode we listen to leading academics discuss the role of expert knowledge in governance and diplomacy in the Arctic.  The speakers are: Merje Kuus, Professor, University of British Columbia. Yang Jian, Vice-President, Shanghai Institute for International Studies. Heather Nicol, Professor, Trent University. Lassi Heininen, Professor, The Arctic Yearbook. This event originally took place a...

In this episode we listen to leading researchers discuss the cryosphere as a link between the Arctic and the Third Pole.  The speakers are: Kamrul Hossain, Research Professor, NIEM, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland Fu-Kuo Liu, Professor & Director, Centre for Security Studies, National Chengchi University Albert van Wijngaarden, Visiting Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland Ail...

In this episode we listen to a discussion on Asian-Nordic collaboration in the Arctic. The speakers are: Aileen Aseron Espiritu, Researcher & Network leader, The Arctic University of Norway Jacob Isbosethsen, Head of Representation in Beijing, Government of Greenland Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, Assistant Professor, University of Iceland Marc Lanteigne, Associate Professor, UiT The Arctic University...

In this episode we listen to leading academics discuss a Japanese research project for bridging science to society, called Project of Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II.  The speakers are: Hiroyuki Enomoto, Professor, ArCS II Directions, National Institute of Polar Research Yuka Oishi, Lecturer, Kobe University Naomi Harada, Professor, Tokyo University Fujio Ohnishi, Associate Professor, Arcti...

In this episode we listen to a panel on the future of Arctic geopolitics.  The Panelists are: Miyase Christensen, Professor, Stockholm University, Sweden Atsushi SUNAMI, President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan Jian YANG, Vice-President, Shanghai Institute for International Studies, China Lassi Heininen, Chair, GlobalArctic Mission Council; Professor Emeritus, University of Lapland, Finland Thi...

In this episode we listen to a panel on food in the Arctic and in Asia, and the cultural and economic connections between these two regions when it comes to food.  The Panelists are:  Per Theodor Tørrissen, Director, North Norwegian Competence Center Food Johan Kvalheim, Director, Japan & Korea Norwegian Seafood Council Hide SAKAGUCHI, President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), E...

In this episode we listen to a panel on Greenland’s role in and perspective on addressing the challenges of the future.  The Panelists are: Jacob S. Isbosethsen, Head of Representation in Beijing, Government of Greenland Malik Peter Koch Hansen, Board Member of Nunanut Allanut Politikkeqarnermut Peqatigiiffik, The Greenland Foreign Policy Society Qivioq Løvstøm, Assistant Professor, Ilisimatusarfi...

In this episode we listen to a panel on the glaciers of the Third Pole region, and the consequences of their melting for Japan.  The Panelists are: Pema GYAMTSHO, Director General, ICIMOD Rajesh Bahadur THAPA, Senior Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Specialist, ICIMOD Hide SAKAGUCHI, President of the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), Executive Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japa...

In this episode we listen to a panel on Arctic science collaboration. The Panelists are: Larry Hinzman, Executive Director, Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee; Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Former President, of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), USA Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director General, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat Ágúst Hjörtur Ingþórsson, Director Gen...

In this episode we listen to a panel on the interests and contributions of Observer States of the Arctic Council.  The Panelists are:  Ambassador Keizo TAKEWAKA, Ambassador for International Economic Affairs and Arctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo Ambassador Youngki HONG, Republic of Korea Arctic Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Evan T. BLOOM, Senior Fellow, the Wilson Center...

In this episode we listen to a panel on economic opportunities in the Arctic, with emphasis on the Asian perspective. The Panelists are: Mead Treadwell, Chair, US Arctic Research Commission, in 2006-2010; Lt. Governor of Alaska, 2010-2014; Chairman/CEO, Qilak LNG; Board Member, Pt Capital. Natsuhiko OTSUKA, Professor, Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, Japan Shoko NIREKI, Chairman, Icela...

In this episode we hear from experts on the role of Indigenous knowledge, in the discussions on climate change in the Arctic. The Panelists are: Qivioq Løvstrøm, Assistant Professor of Culture and Social History, Ilisimatusarfik/University of Greenland Mia OTOKIAK, Technical Advisor, at the Nunavut Impact Review Board, in Canada. The Panel is followed by a Q&A with the audience and is chaired...

In this episode we listen to a discussion on how the melting Arctic ice has consequences for the rest of the world. Panelists in this session are: H.E. Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Iceland; Chairman of the Arctic Council 2019-2021. Hiroyuki ENOMOTO, Vice Director-General, National Institute for Polar Research, Japan The Panel is followed by a Q&A wi...

In this episode we listen to a dialogue between the Arctic Ambassadors of Japan, China and Korea as they discuss their countries role in the Arctic.  They are: Ambassador Keizo Takewaka, Ambassador for International Economic Affairs and Arctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Ambassador Feng Gao, Special Representative for Arctic Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Rep...

In this episode we listen to five experts discuss collaboration accross borders and boundaries. The Scientists are: Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, Mayor of Dhulikhel, Nepal Madleline Redfern, COO, CanArctic Inuit Networks; Northern Director Arctic360, Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Crawford Patkotak, Chairman of the Board, Arctic Regional Slope Corporation, United States David W. Lamm, Deputy Director, Nea...

In this episode we listen to four experts discuss Green Energy in the Arctic and in the Himalaya Third Pole Region. The Scientists are: Haukur Harðarson, Chairman and Founder, Arctic Green Energy Adnan Amin, CEO Emirates Climate Conference - COP28 UAE; Director-General Emeritus, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Andrew Hall, Chairman, Saxjo Limited; Executive Officer, Siemens Gamesa Re...

In this episode we listen to three experts discuss various aspects of Science Diplomacy in the Arctic and in the Himalaya Third Pole Region. The Experts are: Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, Rector, University of Akureyri, Iceland Marc Lanteigne, Associate Professor, UiT The Arctic University of Norway Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, Nansen Professor, UiT The Arctic University of Norway; University of Akureyri, Ic...

In this episode we hear from three scientists discussing the Study of Ice in the Arctic and in the Third Pole – Himalaya Region. The Scientists are: Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson, Glaciologist, Icelandic Meteorological Office Eklabya Sharma, Senior Fellow-Policy Advisor, ICIMOD; Senior Advisor and Distinguished Fellow, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), India Pema Gyamtsho,...

In this episode we hear from three experts discussing the Evolution of Arctic Cooperation based on lessons learned from the Arctic Circle and other venues. The Experts are: H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman Arctic Circle; President of Iceland 1996-2016 Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, Nansen Professor, UiT The Arctic University of Norway; University of Akureyri, Iceland Hide Sakaguchi, President of t...

In this episode we hear from three experts discussing the Evolution of Arctic Cooperation based on lessons learned from the Arctic Council. The Experts are: Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, 2019-2021; Permanent Representative of Iceland in Geneva Madeline Redfern, COO, CanArctic Inuit Networks; Northern Director Arctic360, Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Mead Treadwell, C...

In this episode we listen to four experts discuss the Himalayas and the Preservation of the Third Pole. The Panelists are: Soumitra Das, Chairman and Executive Director, Healthy Climate Initiative, United States Rituraj Phukan, Founder, Indigenous People's Climate Justice Forum; National Coordinator for Biodiversity, the Climate Reality Project, India; Member, IUCN Subarna Bhattacharyya, Co-F...