The Centre for Arctic Policy Studies at the University of Iceland (CAPS) is organizing a high-level seminar on Arctic issues, scheduled to take place in Reykjavik, Iceland on 29 October 2014.
This is the second year that the Trans Arctic Agenda seminar is held in Reykjavík. The Centre for Arctic Policy Studies was launched at this seminar in 2013. This year the Trans Arctic Agenda conference will focus on the governance and management of the Arctic region following the Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna of 2013. Furthermore the 2014 Trans Arctic Agenda conference will create a link into two other high level Arctic conferences scheduled to take place in Iceland the same week – namely gender equality in the Arctic (Akureyri 30 October) and the Arctic Circle Assembly (Reykjavík 31 October – 2 November). The Trans-Arctic Agenda seminar will be opened by the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
The background to the seminar lies in the rapid changes that climate change and increased international attention is bringing to the circumpolar Arctic region. These changes offer new opportunities for resource exploitation, human settlement and travel, but they will also disrupt the present natural conditions and living environment for all concerned in the High North. Prudent, cooperative and sustainable handling of the challenges involved will be crucial for gleaning as much as possible from the positive effects of change while minimizing the potential damage.
This year the Trans Arctic Agenda conference will focus not only on the perspectives of the circumpolar states, but also on the influence of different actors, state, non-state and corporate; permanent participants; and observers. This will be achieved by looking at different perceptions and policies, how they are formed and what actors have a voice strong enough to influence policy making. This will involve examining the interplay of business development and environmental protection, emerging sub-regions and the possibilities and limitations of Arctic governance. We will offer both a retrospective and a forward-looking perspective on North American leadership in the Arctic Council with the US taking over from Canada in 2015. The conference will offer panels looking at this from different aspects with regards to regions, sub-regions and issues.
This year the seminar will focus on the following seven themes:
1) Arctic and Foreign Policies of the Arctic States
All the eight member states of the Arctic Council have published their Arctic policies, some even their revised policies. Even though all the policies promote circumpolar cooperation, and there is every reason to be optimistic in those terms, the eight states are a diverse group. They differ in terms of size, population, perception and capacity, their status in the region and foreign policies. This panel will discuss foreign- and Arctic policies of the eight Arctic states, looking to answer questions such as what are the main priorities in the foreign policies of the states? Is the Arctic a real priority? How are Arctic matters handled within each state and what actors influence the policy? How do domestic politics influence the foreign and Arctic policies?
Among speakers are: Asle Toje, Research Director, The Nobel Institute; Michael T. Corgan, Associate Professor of International Relations, Boston University and CAPS Visiting Scholar; Joël Plouffe, Researcher Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute and Managing Editor Arctic Yearbook; Lassi Heininen, Professor, Univeristy of Lapland, Editor of Arctic Yearbook; Jakub M. Godzimirski, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs; Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Iceland; Alexander Hviid, Royal Danish Defence College.
Chair: Alyson JK Bailes, Adjunct Lecturer, Universtiy of Iceland
2) Arctic Council observers, the "Near-Arctic" and the High North
The High North is attracting attention from all over the globe and many different actors have expressed their interest in the region and applied for observer ship in the Arctic Council. In the Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Kiruna 2013 many applicants were granted such observer ship. A majority of the new observer states are Asian, which are China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore. This panel will focus first and foremost on the new Asian observer states and what their new status entails for them. What roles and responsibilities are there for observer states and how can they best influence decision-making and make sure that their voice is heard?
Among speakers are: Jesse Hastings, Lecturer, National University of Singapore and CAPS Visiting Scholar; Marc Lanteigne, Senior Researcher (Asia) at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and CAPS Visiting Scholar; Malgorzata Smieszek, Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland; Philip E. Steinberg, Professor, Durham University, Ingrid A. Medby, Doctoral Researcher, Durham University and Johanne M. Bruun, Doctoral Researcher, Durham University; Adam Stepien, Researcher, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland; Caroline Kennedy, Professor, University of Hull and Admiral Nick Lambert, master mariner and former British National Hydrographer; Johannes Riber Nordby, Analyst, Royal Danish Defence College; Michal Luszczuk, Post-dodtoral fellow, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce.
Chair: Lassi Heininen, Professor, University of Lapland, Editor of Arctic Yearbook
3) The West Nordic region
West Nordic cooperation has taken significant steps in the past few years, with the West Nordic Council establishing itself as a significant platform for West Nordic political cooperation, as well as building on more traditional cultural ties and mutual economic interests. This panel will focus on the challenges and opportunities the West Nordic region faces in the coming years such as the Arctic's rising geo-economic and strategic importance and challenges due to climate change. Will West Nordic cooperation be successful in shaping the Arctic's future? What constitutes the "region" and is there such a thing as West Nordic identity? Will there be a joint West Nordic Arctic strategy? Can the small West Nordic nations increase their influence on the Arctic developments through enhanced cooperation and how will it influence wider Nordic cooperation, the Arctic Council and other fora?
Among speakers are: Maria Ackrén, Associate Professor, University of Greenland; Rasmus Gjeldssø Bertelsen, Assistant Professor, Aalborg University; Egill Þór Níelsson, Visiting Scholar, Polar Research Institute of China; Beinta í Jakubsstovu, University of the Faroe Islands.
Chair: Auður H Ingólfsdóttir, Assistant Professor, Bifröst University.
4) Polar Code and Law of the Sea
The panel will address a few contemporary issues concerning the international law of the sea that is of relevance for the Arctic such as navigation, maritime boundary delimitations, the extended continental shelf and fisheries. One of the issues that will be dealt with is the Polar Code which the IMO has been developing. It is a draft mandatory International Code of safety for ships operating in polar waters, to cover the full range of design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue and environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in the inhospitable waters surrounding the two poles. Another issue that will be addressed is Canada's submission of preliminary information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf concerning the outer limits of the continental shelf of Canada in the Arctic Ocean.
Among speakers are Coalter G. Lathrop, Lecturing Fellow, Duke Universtiy; Erik Røsæg, Professor, University of Oslo; Bjarni Már Magnússon, Assistant Professor, University of Reykjavik.
Chair: Helgi Áss Grétarsson, Associate Professor, University of Iceland.
5) The balance between business developments and environmental protection in the Arctic
The Arctic is already highly globalized and influences by market forces and geopolitics have become apparent. Different actors, state, non-state and corporate have declared interest in the region or even invested in some sort of business developments. While no one owns the Arctic, it is necessary to make sure that it is governed and managed in a responsible sustainable manner, with balance between business adventures and nature preservation. This panel looks at the interplay between different actors promoting different, and sometimes not compatible, interests. Furthermore, it seeks to answer such questions as who is responsible if something goes wrong, how will the responsibility be divided between private and public actors and how can those with indirect interests voice their concerns to make sure their interests are taken account off?
Among speakers are: Georg Lárusson, Director General of the Icelandic Coastguard; Amy L. Lovecraft, Associate Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Stephen Macko, Professor, University of Virginia.
Chair: Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, Professor, University of Iceland.
6) North American leadership in the Arctic Council
This panel focuses on the North American leadership in the Arctic Council. First of all it looks at Canada's leadership, that is coming to its end and secondly it discusses what to expect from the US leadership, starting in 2015. The Canadian and US priorities will be explored as well as their Arctic awareness. The aim is to shed light on issues such as differences in leadership style, Arctic identity and approaches to intergovernmental cooperation and policy priorities.
Among speakers: Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations, USC University of Southern California, Heather Exner-Pirot, stragetist, Universty of Saskatchewan and Managing Editor Arctic Yearbook; Michael Byers, Professor, University of British Columbia; Harry Bader, Associate Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Click here to see the program of Trans – Arctic Agenda.
Click here for the Trans – Arctic Agenda Summary Report 2013