UN Ocean Conference 2025: UiT and the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic

The Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic held project management responsibility for UiT’s side event Arctic Future Pathfinders at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice in June 2025. Together with Memorial University of Newfoundland, we brought together decision-makers, researchers, Indigenous representatives, young people and industry actors to discuss how the Arctic is shaping the future of ocean governance.

Background and objectives

The Arctic is on the frontline of climate change, geopolitical shifts and increasing pressure on ecosystems. International processes—such as UN ocean policy, EU regulations and other countries’ approaches to the Arctic—set the framework for fair competition, sustainable resource management and Norway’s role as an ocean nation.

The aim of the event was to highlight Norwegian and Arctic perspectives within these processes, and to help build bridges between global ocean policy and local realities in the High North.

Implementation

The event took place on board the sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl in the port of Nice on 10 June 2025, and was opened by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon. The programme featured presentations and panel discussions with leaders from politics, research, Indigenous communities, civil society and youth.

Key themes

• The Arctic as a frontline for climate change, geopolitics and ecosystem change—with global implications
• Indigenous peoples as rights-holders and key knowledge holders in ocean governance
• The importance of youth perspectives and intergenerational inclusion
• Integrated governance models that connect science, Indigenous knowledge and policy
• Arctic education and research as contributions to global ocean solutions
• Long-term, non-extractive partnerships in research and policy

Follow-up

Arctic Future Pathfinders is part of a broader collaboration between UiT and Memorial University, including a journey through the Northwest Passage with students and researchers. The Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic will carry the experiences from UNOC3 into its further work within the thematic area International ocean policy and the Arctic, analysing and communicating how global decisions affect ocean industries in the north—and how northern Norwegian and Arctic perspectives can be elevated internationally.