RECONCILING SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TRANSPOLAR ARCTIC
Co-hosted by:
- Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic
- UN Global Compact Norge
- High North Center
Duration: 90 minutes
About the Event
How can security imperatives, economic ambitions, and sustainability goals coexist in the rapidly changing transpolar Arctic? This session invites an open dialogue among policymakers, government representatives, business leaders, scientists, and local stakeholders to explore the balance between these often competing priorities.
As geopolitical tensions rise and investments in defense and preparedness increase, sustainability concerns risk being overshadowed. Through keynote presentations and panel discussions, the event examines critical trade-offs and potential pathways toward aligning security, development, and environmental stewardship in the Arctic region.
Event Objectives
- Explore how security, economic, and sustainability priorities can be reconciled in the transpolar Arctic
- Identify key trade-offs, tensions, and opportunities for collaboration
- Foster dialogue between business, policy, and scientific communities
- Generate actionable insights for a resilient and sustainable Arctic future
Participants
- Gunnar Rekvig, Moderator, Project Manager, Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic, UiT
- Morten Albertsen, Harbor Master, Båtsfjord
- Oda Bjerkan, CEO, UN Global Compact
- Øyvind Dunsæd, Commodore and Commander of the Norwegian Coast Guard
- Andreas Raspotnik, Director, High North Center
- Michael Reiffenstuel, German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)
- Lars Saunes, Professor / Rear Admiral (ret.), Royal Norwegian Navy; CNO Distinguished International Fellow, U.S. Naval War College
- Jan-Gunnar Winther, Director, Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic