Speakers include Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Belgium’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders. Hannu Halinen, Finland’s Ambassador to the Arctic Council, will discuss his country’s plan to lead the way towards a sustainable Arctic, while Konrad Steffen (Director, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) will speak about the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet – and how it affects global sea levels.

President of the Canadian Climate Forum, Gordon McBean will address the need to close the divide between the scientific community and policymakers on climate issues, while Agneta Fransson of the Norwegian Polar Institute will look at Arctic Ocean acidification and its impacts on marine ecosystems.

Organised by the International Polar Foundation [1], the programme for the 2013 edition of Arctic Futures corresponds with Canada’s priorities during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council, which began following the Kiruna Ministerial in May of this year under the theme “development for the people of the North” [2].

Arctic Futures will address Arctic Council priorities during sessions focusing on the following topics:

o The priorities and concerns of Arctic Council nations and other Arctic stakeholders
o Natural and social science research on the Arctic's environment and communities to inform policymaking
o The Arctic’s resources and the sustainable development of Northern economies
o Trends and future scenarios for Arctic marine transport

The Arctic Futures Symposium 2013 is an initiative of the International Polar Foundation. This year’s edition is organized in partnership with the Arctic NGO Forum, with the support of the EU Commission, the European External Action Service, the EU Arctic Information Centre and The North Norway European Office. 

Notes:

[1] The Brussels based International Polar Foundation supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society. http://www.polarfoundation.org  

[2] Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship 2013-2015 http://bit.ly/1bvca6N  

Registration and venue:
Arctic Futures will take place at Bouche-à-Oreille, Rue Félix Hap 11, B-1040 Brussels on 16-17 October 2013.

Further information on the Arctic Futures Symposium, including a detailed programme and registration procedure. Prior registration for the symposium is mandatory. Registrations must be received no later than Monday 13 October.
For queries please contact events@polarfoundation.org or +32 2 543 06 98