Arctic Centre marks 20 years

The Anniversary Seminar of the Arctic Centre next Tuesday gathers together top managers of international Arctic policy and science policy. Speakers besides Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, are Chairman of the Arctic Centre’s Scientific Advisory Board and director of the Polar Program at the National Science Foundation Karl Erb from USA, Region Mayor of the Regional Council of Lapland Esko Lotvonen, Rector of the Sami Education Institute Liisa Holmberg, President of the International Arctic Science Committee Kristjan Kristjansson from Iceland and Senior Arctic Official Chair of the Arctic Council Lars Møller.

As BarentsObserver reported last week, Foreign Minsiter, Aleksander Stubb, is likely to present Finland’s Arctic Strategy at the anniversary seminar for the Arctic Center in Rovaniemi.

- It’s a window of opportunity to discuss Finland’s Arctic Policy, in which arctic science and knowhow have central place, states director of the Arctic Centre Paula Kankaanpää.

The Arctic Centre is an international centre for multidisciplinary research and science communications placed in Rovaniemi. The Arctic Centre studies global change, climate change, sustainable development, and environmental and minority law.

- In Finland there is arctic high-level research and arctic know-how in many levels. Last years the strategic significance of the Arctic area has rapidly changed due to climate change and as it’s consequence considerable new natural resources can be exploited. It is Finland’s interest to be focused and involved in the development of the Arctic area, because Lapland – where tourism and mining business intensify the economic growth – is part of the international Arctic cooperation area and right at next to us Russia is building Arctic oil and gas infrastructure, says Kankaanpää.