The Circle

We spoke to Iceland’s Canadian-born first lady about why she thinks promoting a more sustainable form of tourism is critical—not just for Iceland, but for other countries around the world—and how tourism can play a part in achieving the SDGs.

While the harvest of traditional foods is still important for nutritional, cultural and economic reasons, Indigenous communities increasingly rely on commercially made products.

This article originally appeared in The Circle: Sustainable Development Goals. The Circle shares perspectives from across the Arctic, and the views expressed here are not necessarily those of WWF. See all Circle issues here. Three towns are in the process of amalgamating to form a new municipality, known for now as new Asker. Part of […]

Since the first Arctic Energy Summit convened in Anchorage, Alaska in 2007 the Arctic energy landscape has changed significantly. NILS ANDREASSEN looks at approaching sustainable development in the Arctic from the perspectives shared during the 2017 Summit in Finland.

This article originally appeared in The Circle 01.18. Find back issues here. CINDY DICKSON, executive director of the Arctic Athabaskan Council (Canada) spoke with THE CIRCLE about the realities and challenges of development in the Arctic. THE CIRCLE: What are the modern realities of living in the Arctic? CINDY DICKSON: The reality is that the […]

The Arctic Council is considered the most important international forum in the Arctic. However, SVEIN VIGELAND ROTTEM notes that the inclusion of more stakeholders in the Council’s work raises questions as to capacity and coordination.

In 2014 the captain and owners of the freighter Nordic Orion made an historic decision: instead of carrying their load of coal from Vancouver, Canada to Finland via the Panama Canal, they headed through Arctic waters for the Northwest Passage. It was the first time a freighter chose the Canadian Arctic route over the Panama route, based entirely on business logic. ALAN ATKISSON says that voyage marks the start of a transformation in the Arctic economy.

The World Bank defines the Blue Economy as “the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health”. OKALIK EEGEESIAK suggests for Inuit, the term Ice Blue Economy would be more appropriate.

Long-term investors (LTIs) bring a unique set of resources that make them ideal partners for sustainable development. JAMES E. PASS addresses the benefits of LTIs in the Arctic.

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth and rapidly becoming a wetter, more variable environment. Over the past 50 years, the Arctic’s temperature has risen at a rate more than twice the global average. JANET PAWLAK says these changes affect the Arctic’s role as a regulator of global temperature and its influence on Northern Hemisphere weather; its contribution to sea-level rise; the lifestyles and livelihoods of those who live and work in the Arctic; Arctic marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the habitats of Arctic species.