European Polar Board partners at the EU Polar Cluster booth. Photo: Marije Tempel and Bethan Hosking Jones 

Arctic PASSION had a strong presence at this year’s Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, October 17-19, 2024. With a diverse array of sessions, our partners contributed to discussions on pivotal Arctic issues, showcasing our commitment to fostering collaboration, research, and sustainability in the region. 

Key highlights in which Arctic PASSION partners co-organised or were involved in:  

• Empowering collaborative research through the U.S. Arctic Research Plan 
• Navigating the new Arctic: The role of non-Arctic states in shaping the future 
• Formats of Arctic youth cooperation: past, present and future 
• A trillion reasons: Visions of Arctic investment 
• From the Arctic to the Himalaya: Preserving the cryosphere 
• International Polar Year 2032-33: From Concept to Action 
• Strengthening Canada-Greenland Trade Cooperation: The Arctic Economic Council 
• Towards the International Polar Year: What New Knowledge Is Needed for Arctic Security and Governance? 
• Building Futures: Housing for Sustainable Arctic Communities 
• Advancing Arctic Research Cooperation and Diplomacy Through the ICARP IV 
• Germany in the Arctic: Geopolitics, Security and Climate 
• Scientific Contributions of State Observers to the Arctic Council Working Groups 
• A Rapidly Changing Arctic: Implications for Science, Policy and Diplomacy 
• Behind the Scenes of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) Success Story 
• Challenging Westernization: Amplifying Indigenous Self-Determination in the Arctic 
• Dialogue & Learning: Canada, Inuit Nunangat & UK Arctic Research Programme 
• Arctic Youth and Mental Wellbeing: Storytelling and Hopeful Narratives 
• Protecting the Cryosphere: The International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 
• State of Development in the Arctic from 2025 to 2050 
• Unifying Indigenous Wisdom and Climate Science for a Sustainable Future 
• Rethinking Arctic: Scenarios on Future Scientific Cooperation and Diplomacy 
• ICARP IV – Arctic Research Planning for the Next Decade 
• Polar Bear’s Den: Cities of Arctic Youth 
• A roundtable discussion on science diplomacy through conferencing

It was an inspiring and impactful event that reaffirmed Arctic PASSION's involvement in the international discussions on shaping the future of the Arctic through partnership, research, and innovation. We look forward to continuing the conversation and strengthening our contributions to Arctic resilience. 

Volker Rachold participating in the panel discussion for The International Year of Glaciers' Preservation 2025 session. Photo: Marije Tempel and Bethan Hosking Jones