Interview with Axel Wernhoff, Sweden's Senior Arctic Official

What is your background, and how do you feel it has prepared you for your role as a Senior Arctic Official?

I'm a typical career diplomat. I've been in this business for over 35 years at various postings including in Southeast Asia and in Europe. I spent 11 years in Stockholm working in EU affairs. I was very much involved in Sweden’s presidencies of the Council of the European Union in 2001 and 2009. Then, I spent four years as Consul General in Jerusalem, far from the Arctic, for sure. But after that, I became the Swedish Ambassador to Norway.

I spent four years in Norway and of course, there, if not before, I met Arctic issues really head on. Snow knowledge, so to speak, is nothing new to me. I've also been an avid skier and spent a lot of time in the Swedish and Norwegian mountains, as well as in the Alps. But of course, during those four years, I encountered real Arctic issues and, not least, the role Norway plays in this. I have attended the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø and the Kirkenes Conference where I got a feel for Arctic issues as well. In 2018, I became the Swedish NATO Ambassador, a position I had for the last six years. So, I have some experience from Norway in Arctic issues, but I also have a fairly good knowledge now on the security implications, also in the Arctic, of what's happening globally.

What elements of your work with the Arctic Council are you most looking forward to?

While there are some limitations to what the Council can and cannot do right now, given the geopolitical situation, there are three aspects to the work that I think are extremely important. One is the scientific work, which continues today and is one area where we need more knowledge. We know the Arctic is definitely affected by climate change, but many questions still remain around how and what the consequences of those effects will be. There are definitely challenges, that's for sure, but there could also be opportunities. So, it's very crucial that the scientific work can continue.

What I also like with the Arctic Council is the mechanism where Indigenous Peoples are involved through the six Permanent Participants. That’s a unique setup that I think is very, very important as we move ahead.

Then, of course, the Arctic Council is not a forum where we talk about security policy or military aspects, which is a change from my former work. I think this is very important, and we need such a mechanism. Let us continue to have this protected space to talk about the scientific challenges and implications for the Arctic and for the people living in the Arctic, and leave security policy to other fora and contexts.

What is your most memorable Arctic experience?

I've been to Svalbard, which was fantastic from a personal point of view to see the environment, the landscape. This was in June, so even though it was cold, it was not absolutely freezing. That was a marvelous experience to see that nature and landscape without trees, without reference points basically, which makes it very hard to judge distance. I have also been to Northern Norway in Tromsø a few times and skiing in Lyngen. Lofoten is also a magnificent place. I haven't been to Alaska, Siberia or the high north in Canada, but I would love to go. I hope I get the chance to do that now.