Panel Discussion

Day: Wed 15 Nov, 2017

Time: 15:30–17:00

Venue: Tieva, Lappia Hall, Rovaniemi

Chair: Gosia Smieszek, Researcher, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland

Keynote speaker

Eeva Furman - Member of the working group drafting the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Report, Director of the Environment Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute and Chair of Finland's Sustainable Development Expert Panel

Panelists

• Lars Kullerud - President of the University of the Arctic
• Evan Bloom - Director of the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
• Eeva Furman - Director of the Environment Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)
• David Scott - President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Polar Knowledge Canada
• Lars-Otto Reiersen - Former Executive Secretary of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)

Why this theme?

In 2015 the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to chart the course for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainability. While science provides fundamental knowledge for the evidence-based implementation of the Agenda, the realisation of the SDGs needs to acknowledge unique features and differences between regions of the world. How can Arctic science help translate the SDGs into the Arctic context and into concrete action?

Who are the panelists?

The panelists represent a broad spectrum of perspectives from national, regional and global levels. They come from policy circles and scientific community and all share long engagement with Arctic and sustainable development issues. The session will be opened by the keynote speech from Eeva Fuhrman, followed by remarks from the speakers.

What can we expect?

The aim of the panel is to inform discussions on effective translation of the SDGs into Arctic context and how Arctic science can contribute in concrete terms to the realisation of sustainable development and the SDGs in the region. At the same time, the panel provides an excellent opportunity for Arctic developments and needs to inform writing of the first Global Sustainable Development Report due in 2019.