A new policy paper: “Data-driven Subnational Decision-making in the Arctic: The power of Indigenous voices and data supporting the green transition” will change the way we look at green transition. Published by the team at the University of Lapland, a partner in the Arctic PASSION project.

The Policy Brief summarises the preliminary findings
of Arctic PASSION’s work on enhancing evidence-based decision-making at the local
and regional level in the Arctic, with respect to two themes:  The state of
inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in sub-national decision-making; and data
availability, needs and gaps with respect to managing and planning the green
transition.

1. With regards to the inclusion of Indigenous
Knowledge in sub-national decision-making: The cooperation of Indigenous Peoples,
science and governance could benefit from:

• Facilitating
awareness among subnational policymakers of the specific issues and challenges
Indigenous populations face in specific regions.
• Increasing the number
of persons with Indigenous identity in administrative bodies.
• Ensuring
a better understanding of Indigenous communities’ relations to land and water and
facilitating further knowledge exchange between Indigenous communities,
scientists/researchers and policymakers on practices of including Indigenous
perspective in policies and plans.
• Providing results of scientific
research transparently demonstrates a broad perspective on the activities that
should be performed and how they would benefit the Indigenous and non-Indigenous
population of the particular community.
• Ensuring that the inclusion of
three parallel perspectives – Indigenous, local, and scientific – becomes a normal
approach to developing risk assessments, reports, plans, and policies.

2. Regarding data availability, needs and gaps with respect to managing
and planning green transition at a subnational governance level: There is a need to
develop better tools for assessing local and global impacts and benefits of green
energy investments.

• Comprehensive databases capturing green
transition planning information and data are needed, reflecting the need for more
holistic policy-making.
• National and EU policymakers could consider
supporting cooperation between Arctic municipalities and regions with respect to
climate mitigation and adaptation. Such collaborations should focus on concrete
actions and the exchange of specific models, tools, and processes, rather than
abstract sharing of good practices. A case study approach may be beneficial in this
context.
• There is a need to invest more in generating data and
aggregating information related to social indicators linked directly to green
transition projects.

The above insights emerged from 30
semi-structured in-depth interviews with a sample of Arctic and sub-Arctic
subnational decision-makers, rightsholders, and stakeholders.

Municipalities: 
Rovaniemi,
Kemi, Kuusamo (Finland) 
Luleå, Stockholm municipalities
(Sweden) 
Municipalities of Harstad, Tana, Vardø, and Kvænangen
(Norway)
Reykjavik municipality (Iceland) 
Avannaata municipality (Greenland) 
City & Borough of
Juneau, Anchorage Municipality (Alaska, USA) 

Arctic Council Permanent
Participants: 
Inuit Circumpolar Council
Canada

Environmental agencies:
Norwegian Centre for Climate Services (Norway) 
Environment and Climate Change (Canada) 

Governments: 
The
Governments of Yukon, NWT, Nunavut (Canada) 
Ministry of Local
Government and Regional Development of Norway 
 
Learn more:
The 31-page policy paper
A flyer summarizing the main paper
findings
About Arctic
PASSION

Contact:
Pavel Tkach
pavel.tkach(at)ulapland.fi, +358402580946, the lead author for the policy
brief

Adam Stepien adam.stepien(at)ulapland.fi, +358404844298, a
contributor to the policy brief

News release originally published  29-JUN-2023
in EurekAlert