Arctic Warming and Indigenous Communities
Description: As Arctic accessibility increases, economic opportunities expand—but at what cost? The influx of ships, resource extraction and tourism threaten Indigenous communities, disrupting centuries-old traditions. Environmental hazards, ice depletion and cultural alienation pose serious risks to their way of life. This presentation explores the urgent need for an international regulatory framework to safeguard Indigenous rights, preserve thick sea-ice, and mitigate the socio-environmental impact of expanding maritime activity. Sustainable solutions that balance economic development with the survival of Arctic communities, ensuring their way of life is safeguarded for future generations, shall be explored and adopted. Protecting the Arctic means protecting its people.
Speaker: Dimitrios Dalaklis, World Maritime University
Active student learning - A look at Hazardous materials in companies in the high north
Description: Working with preparedness, emergencies and disasters fosters a wide variety of skills and knowledge. The Norwegian government stresses the need for studies to be more relevant to work and for lifelong learning (White papers 5 and 14, 2022-2023). At the bachelor’s in international preparedness (BIP) in Harstad we design a curriculum especially relevant for these needs.
Speaker: Aud Solveig Nilsen and Pål Bjarne Nilsen, the Arctic University of Norway