2026
Turn of the Tide
BIG PICTURE SESSIONS
Arctic State of Affairs
13:30 - 15:00, 3rd of February
Global relations have changed in the past year, and that also applies to the relationships between Arctic states. Local leadership in Arctic governance is emphasized by Greenland’s key role in the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship of the Arctic Council.
Established channels of cooperation such as research are strained. Simultaneously, the domestic dynamics within Arctic states are in flux. Funding priorities have shifted and are increasingly diverted towards defence.
This session focuses on the current state of Arctic affairs and the prospects for future collaboration.
The Space to Collaborate
17:30 - 18:45, 3rd of February
Space infrastructure has advanced swiftly in parts of the North where the nearest neighbour is the stratosphere. Space technology is key for critical services and surveillance in the Arctic.
Space capabilities can serve as redundancies and deterrents to help address vulnerabilities in Arctic security, for example from sparse infrastructure or climate hazards. Collaboration between different sectors is necessary to meet both civil and defence needs. Between dual-use and rapid growth, governance should be carefully considered as technological development may outpace ethical and regulatory frameworks.
This session will focus on the role of space development in securing a resilient Arctic.
Building Up the Arctic
11:00 - 12:15,4th of February
Geopolitical changes have warranted a shift in mindset in the Arctic to one of total preparedness. To build for the future means investing in infrastructure with communities in mind. Consultation, local inclusion and benefits are crucial to mitigate potential social divisions.
The changing security situation steers investment into hard infrastructure —transportation, ports, energy, and digital services—while demanding international collaboration to futureproof investments against climate hazards and against the growing needs from search and rescue, and operational risks. Herein lies an opportunity to steer expanding maritime and land activities towards sustainable development.
This session will focus on the investments in hard infrastructure from defence actors and how to do it justly and safely.
The Ebb & Flow of Economies
15:30 - 16:45, 4th of February
Increased protectionism and growing security concerns are changing international trade as we know it. These changes have potentially a profound impact on the open and resource-based economies of the Arctic.
Arctic communities now seek to diversify and strengthen their regional economies to safeguard their resilience. Development calls for adaptation to ensure economic viability, and the ability to attract and select the desired investments.
This session focuses on how impacts from economic tides flow from global to local realities.
Stories from the Coast
13:30 - 14:45, 5th of February
The Arctic is connected by the ocean; the ocean is the food, the climate, and the health of many Indigenous Peoples and Arctic citizens. However, the Arctic Ocean is also threatened with ecosystems unable to adapt to the rapid changes in the region.
The sustainability of maritime livelihoods is connected to the security of Arctic nations through local communities. Community wellbeing depends on adapting to the coming changes both locally, nationally and internationally. Innovations such as the prospects of blue bio-economies provide new opportunities for enhancing coastal livelihoods, yet these must also be seen in the context of traditional practices and enhanced climate risks.
The session will bring forward the stories from the coast and challenge decision-makers and experts with the lived realities.
