Arctic Initiative Seminar Series

Join Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Director-General of Iceland's National Energy Authority, and Henry Lee, Jassim M. Jaidah Family Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program on Nov 15 at 4:30 PM EST for COP26 Reflections and Arctic Energy Transitions. Register here: http://bit.ly/ArcticClimateWeek

Join the Arctic Initiative team for Arctic Climate Week at the Harvard Kennedy School! The week will feature events dedicated to understanding the climate impacts in the Arctic and their global implications. Register for Arctic Climate week events here. 

Join the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and the Polar Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center for an engaging Earth Day dialogue with Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, about  Iceland’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council on what is next. 

As climate change rapidly transforms the Arctic, the ocean at its center becomes a point of focus: melting sea ice enables increased marine traffic; ice-dependent species are migrating or dying; fisheries shift and with them economies of subsistence. These changes can mean risk or opportunity for different stakeholders.

This study group will use Arctic Ocean change as a case study to outline the environmental policy process and build participants understanding of how to effectively engage in the climate and oceans policy space. 

To sign-up, please complete this form by Monday, March 8, 2021: https://forms.gle/KYn6nwxr4zq8vnQ98

Over the past five days over thirty Indigenous Youth from around the circumpolar Arctic have worked together, learned together, and innovated together to come up with solutions to challenges facing their communities. Join us to see the final presentations of a few of these young leaders.

Join for a brief history of the founding of this collaboration, which began through the work of the late Harvard Professor, James J. McCarthy. Followed by Arctic Innovation presentations by selected Indigenous Youth participants, who will showcase their solutions for their communities. 

The Arctic Innovation Lab is a project designed to promote solution-oriented discussions on the changing Arctic region. 

Come hear new ideas for a better Arctic and vote for your favorite one!

Opening remarks by Kenneth A. Howery, U.S. Ambassador to Sweden and Co-Founder of Paypal and the Founders Fund

The world's biggest underground iron ore mine is about to undermine the Swedish city of Kiruna. The answer? Move the city.

Join the Arctic Initiative for a conversation with students from Luleå University and experts from across the globe for a case discussion about sustainable development, consensus building, and how one Arctic city is responding to rapid change.

Apply to be part of this unique case discussion opportunity by Monday, September 28, 2020, so you can be matched with your international team.

Join the Arctic Initiative for a discussion with the former President of Iceland, H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the current Chair and Co-founder of the largest gathering on Arctic affairs, the Arctic Circle Assembly, and a leader in the Arctic dialogue. This session is a part of the "Glacier Talks" with leaders on Arctic issues. Limited seats available - you will be notified if you have been selected. 

Are you interested in the Arctic?
Do you have compelling thoughts and ideas to share?
If so, the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School, invites you to take part in our new student-led podcast series.

Study Group Leader: Joel Clement, Senior Fellow, Arctic Initiative

The Arctic Knowledge Systems Study Group will explore ways to collaboratively employ indigenous and scientific knowledge to improve resilience in the Arctic. It will consist of 6 sessions in which we will discuss inclusion of indigenous perspectives and how to improve for the future. All sessions will be held on Tuesdays beginning September 15 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm (ET).

Space is limited! To apply to join the study group please email Brittany Janis your resume and 100 words on why you are interested in participating. 

Moderator: Joel Clement, Senior Fellow, Arctic Initiative

Speakers: Gunn-Britt Retter, Head, Arctic and Environmental Unit, Saami Council

Deenaalee Hodgdon, Student, Brown University; Indigenous Activist

Raina Thiele, Founder and President; Thiele Strategies

Join the Arctic Initiative for an engaging and illuminating conversation with three indigenous leaders: Gunn-Britt Retter, Head of Arctic and Environmental Unit of the Saami Council; Deenaalee Hodgdon, Brown University student and indigenous activist, who is a Deg Hit'an Athabaskan and Supiaq woman from the villages of Anvik and South Naknek, Alaska; and Raina Thiele, Founder and President of Thiele Strategies who was born and raised in Alaska and is Dena'ina Athabascan and Yup'ikas.

Please RSVP to Brittany_Janis@hks.harvard.edu.

Each year the Belfer Center's Arctic Initiative sends a delegation of students to attend the world’s largest Arctic gathering, the Arctic Circle Assembly. This year, after a competitive application process, four students were selected to represent Harvard at the Arctic Innovation Lab. Come and hear their presentations before they leave for Iceland to pitch their ideas for a changing Arctic. 

Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to brittany_janis@hks.harvard.edu by October 2 to secure your seat.

Speaker: Ane Lone Bagger, Minister of Education, Culture, Church, and Foreign Affairs, Greenland

Moderator: Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Arctic Initiative

Greenland, the world's biggest island, has long held a strategic geographic and political position in global affairs. It has made headlines recently, after President Donald Trump stated he wanted to buy the island, because of its strategic location in the Arctic and its wealth of natural resources. Greenland's foreign minister, Ane Lone Bagger, had told Reuters: "We are open for business, but we’re not for sale."

 Join the Arctic Initiative for an insightful lunch with Greenland's Minister of Education, Culture, Church and Foreign Affairs, Ane Lone Bagger, about how Greenland is responding to the shifting dynamics in the Arctic as climate change is transforming the island and the waters surrounding it, opening up the region to the outside world.

Lunch provided. 

This event is currently at capacity. To be added to the wait-list please email brittany_janis@hks.harvard.edu by 4 PM, Monday, September 9th, 2019. RSVPs recorded on a first-requested, first-reserved basis.

Speakers: Fran Ulmer, Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission; Senior Fellow, Arctic Initiative; Elizabeth Arnold, Journalist

Moderator: Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Co-founder and Co-Director, Arctic Initiative 

As climate change begins to impact communities globally, it's crucial for women to take a stand as leaders for ethical and equitable climate adaptation. Nowhere is this leadership challenge felt more strongly than in the Arctic. 

This program is co-hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative and the Women and Public Policy Program.

Lunch provided.  Please RSVP to karin_vander_schaaf@hks.harvard.edu by 4 PM, Friday, February 8, 2019. RSVPs recorded on a first-requested, first-reserved basis.

Speaker: Amb. David A. Balton, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

The Central Arctic Ocean has essentially been ice-covered year-round since the dawn of human history … until now. As a result of climate change, a growing portion of the Arctic Ocean is ice-free for an increasing part of the year, making it possible to contemplate the advent of high seas fisheries in the region. But on October 3, 2018, nine nations and the European Union signed an unusual international agreement that will effectively postpone the start of such fisheries and will instead launch a joint program of scientific research for the Arctic. David Balton, who chaired the negotiations that produced this agreement, will describe the geopolitical forces that made the agreement possible, outline the agreement's basic elements, and consider the place of the agreement in the growing architecture for governing the Arctic Ocean.

Lunch provided.

RSVP by 5 PM, Tuesday, November 6

The Arctic Initiative will host a seminar with Andri Snær Magnason, award-winning author of the book Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation, a longtime bestseller in Iceland, and documentary filmmaker. He will discuss how art -- literature, film, folklore -- can help us confront the realities of climate change.

Lunch will be served. RSVP requested.

The Arctic Initiative will host a seminar with Tero Vauraste, Chair of the Arctic Economic Council and CEO of the Finnish specialized icebreaker company, Arctia Group. Mr. Vauraste will discuss the linkages between free trade, the environment, and security. The discussion will be moderated by Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Co-Founder of the Arctic Initiative. 

Lunch will be served. RSVP required.

The Arctic Initiative will host a seminar, "Is sustainable management of marine resources sufficient to meet increasing global demand for fish? The Icelandic story of relying on scientific policymaking to ensure sustainable fish stocks" with Mr. Jóhann Sigurjónsson, Iceland's Special Envoy on Ocean Affairs and a former Director General of Iceland's Marine Research Institute, discussing Icelandic resource management and science-based policy.

The seminar will be held in the Marc Heng and Family Conference Room (Wex 102).  Lunch will be served.  RSVP is required as space is limited.