The 10th China-Nordic Arctic Research Cooperation Symposium will be held on April 23 – 24, 2025 in Shanghai, China. This year's event is convent by Tongji University under the theme: China-Nordic Synergy towards Sustainability in the Arctic.
The China-Nordic Arctic Research Center (CNARC) is an international consortium initiated by the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) in collaboration with respective institutes in the Nordic countries and China to promote and facilitate China-Nordic cooperation for Arctic research.
CNARC provides a platform for academic cooperation with the following aims:
To increase awareness, understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and its global impacts.
To promote cooperation for sustainable development of the Nordic Arctic and coherent development of China in the global context.
Call for Abstracts
Call for Abstracts for oral presentations is now open with a deadline on February 28th. Proposals are welcomed from researchers affiliated with Nordic and Chinese universities, research institutes, think tanks, and organizations. All presentations shall focus on Arctic-related issues, within one of the session topics:
- Session I - Realizing international cooperation in the Arctic
- Session II - Arctic Ocean – in a warming climate
- Session III - International shipping in the Arctic – the environmental dimension
- Session IV - The role of energy transition in the respond to climate change
The 10th China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium is an international and multi-disciplinary event expected to draw researchers, industry representatives, policy-makers and community leaders to present, debate and discuss research findings and issues relating to growing Nordic-Asian Arctic cooperation.
Abstracts, in English, (250–400 words) should be submitted electronically to:
Pan Min, Professor, Tongji University, ;
Sandy Shan, Executive Secretary, CNARC,
Deadline for Abstract Submission is February 28, 2025
Background description for each session:
Session I – Realizing international cooperation in the Arctic
Effective international cooperation is important for addressing transnational challenges such as climate change and environmental issues. However, these times are challenging for international cooperation globally. Even though the Arctic, like other regions, is affected by this, the story of cross-border cooperation in the Arctic is special – and encompasses not only the Arctic states but also the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Is this cooperation something that could be learned from and applied elsewhere or is it only applicable to the Arctic? How can Nordic-Chinese research cooperation contribute to an informed discussion on such issues?
- What are the prospects for China-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic and are there any approaches that could strengthen mutual understanding and trust?
- What can other regions learn from Arctic international cooperation? Could such international cooperation, for example regarding involvement of indigenous peoples and indigenous rights, be applied elsewhere?
- How may academic research support cross-border cooperation in the Arctic?
Session II – Arctic Ocean – in a warming climate
The Arctic is warming four times the global average. Consequently, a dramatic reduction in the sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean has been observed in the last decades. An ocean, which has been permanently ice-covered for millions of years, is now transiting to a seasonally open blue ocean. An ocean, which therefore has not been available for scientific studies and mapping, is now much more accessible. Rapidly changing environmental conditions call for identifying and collecting core observations to understand the near and long-term development of the Arctic Ocean. Some nations have built new research icebreakers during the past decades, and others are in the process of building. How can the scientific activities in the Arctic Ocean be coordinated and information shared?
- What are the scientific results from recent cruises?
- What are the knowledge gaps and research priorities for the Arctic Ocean for the next decade?
- How are we preparing for the International Polar Year 2032-33?
Session III – International shipping in the Arctic – the environmental dimension
Whereas international transit traffic has remained modest, a significant increase in destination shipping (transports into and out from the Arctic) has taken place. No major environmental accident has so far been reported, but if a major oil spill occurred it could have serious repercussions for the sea as well as coastal areas. Ballast water and emissions to air remain a problem. Thus, there is a constant need to ensure the safety of maritime operations. This includes the quality of ships operating (e.g. ice-class), as well as sailing season – considering the ice situation - and emergency procedures. The IMOs Polar Code, which went into force in 2017, was meant to establish new standards and guidelines for shipping, but how effective is the implementation of regulations, which primarily depends on port state control? New technologies for shipping are being developed, including more environmentally friendly fuel and improved ship designs. What are the most important advances in this field? importance of scientific assessments to improving knowledge and understanding of the Arctic to inform policy shaping and decision-making;
- What are the main environmental challenges in current Arctic shipping activities?
- How effective is the implementation of the Polar Code (International code for ships operating in polar waters)? What about the enforcement of the code? Do we need a new safety standard for shipping in the Arctic, especially for cruise/expedition operations?
- Are new green shipping technologies emerging that could raise the environmental performance of Arctic shipping? Can the establishment of green shipping corridors be a way forward?
- As Arctic marine tourism increases, how can we ensure it`s sustainable?
Session IV – The role of energy transition in the respond to climate change
Climate change is driving worldwide transformations across ecosystems, from contributing to sea-level rise and shifting weather patterns to altering wildlife migrations. Recognizing the urgency of climate action, parties to the UNFCCC at COP28 agreed to accelerate the global energy transition. The Arctic plays a dual role as both an energy producer and a beneficiary of this global shift towards cleaner energy sources. Meanwhile, the demand for low-carbon energy, LNG from Asian economies, including China, South Korea, and India is increasing with the purpose of supporting their own ambitious climate targets. How can we ensure that climate concerns are at the forefront of decisions shaping the future of Arctic energy development? Mainstreaming of environmental concerns in Arctic resource development;
- What role is the Arctic likely to have in energy supplies to Asian countries?
- What will be the role of external actors in Arctic resource development？
- What can be learned from development of renewable energy in the Nordic countries?
Source:cnarc.info
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