In the Fairbanks ministerial meeting Finland takes over the two-year rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit is the first large scale public Arctic event of the chairmanship period.

The conference builds on the heritage of “Rovaniemi process”, the first step in governmental cooperation between the Arctic states. It led to the adoption of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy in 1991 and the current Arctic Council structures are largely a result of the Rovaniemi process. Thus there is a tradition of strengthening peace, stability and cooperation in the Arctic region.

This has been the inspiration for the international Arctic conferences in 2013, 2015 and 2017, in Rovaniemi, Finland. The Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit 2017 will provide an opportunity to approach such themes as sustainable development and the current situation of the Arctic co-operation. While not being a part of the official program of the Arctic Council chairmanship the conference provides space for relevant and topical Arctic discussions.

The Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit is integrated with the international Polar Law Symposium. The conference is co-organized by the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland and the City of Rovaniemi.

The overall program is now available on the Conference website and the registration has been opened. Seating in the venue is limited and it is expected that the event will be fully booked.

Further information:

Markku Heikkilä
Head of Science Communications
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
markku.heikkila(at)ulapland.fi
+358-40-4844300

Rita Junes
Conference Coordinator
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
rita.junes(at)ulapland.fi
+358-40-4844182

www.rovaniemiarcticspirit.fi
Facebook: facebook.com/rovaniemiarcticspirit
Twitter: @TheArcticSpirit


Photo: Marko Junttila/Arctic Centre
LaY/AK/MH&RJ