The fifth Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit Conference (16th-17th November 2021) gathered close to 200 guests to Korundi House of Culture and about 100 registered online participants.

The opening part of the Conference served as the
international launch of the Finnish presidency of Barents EuroArctic Council. The
Conference was opened by Mr. Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
who also participated to a panel discussion with Tuomas Aslak Juuso, President of
the Sami Parliament and Daria Makhotina, chair of Barents Regional Youth
Council.

Among other conference themes were hard security in the
Arctic, EU-Arctic relations and just transition and land use in a changing climate.
These sessions were organized together with Finnish Institute of International
Affairs, Arctic Society of Finland and three EU Horizon 2020 projects JustNorth,
CHARTER ja ArcticHubs. 

Atmosphere at the
conference was remarkably warm. For many participants it was the first chance to
meet their Arctic friends and colleagues since the outbreak of Covid 19
pandemia.

Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit Conference is Finland’s
leading international Arctic conference. It is organized biannually since 2013 and
it is scheduled to take place next time in autumn 2023. Main organizers are the
Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland and the City of Rovaniemi.

Photos of the Conference can be found
here: Photos Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit 2021

Additional
information:
Project Coordinator, Arctic Centre,
University of Lapland
Helen Honkasaari
helen.honkasaari(at)ulapland.fi
Tel. +358 40513 7026 

Head of Science Communications, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Markku Heikkilä
markku.heikkila(at)ulapland.fi
Tel.
+358 (0)40 484 4300