Arctic Emergency Management Conference: Responding to Emerging Challenges and Risks

The conference was hosted by the Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council and the organization was led by the Council’s Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group’s (EPPR) Norwegian Chair, in cooperation with Nord University. It was an important deliverable of the Norwegian Chairship, which in its program set out to host what would be one of the first international conferences dedicated to a holistic view of Arctic emergency management.

“It was important for us to host this conference because emergency management is a critical aspect of Arctic cooperation that touches on all of our Chairship priorities: oceans, climate and environment, people in the North and sustainable economic development,” said Morten Høglund, Chair of Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials. “By taking a holistic approach, we sought to bring together people together from different countries and regions, small communities and larger ones, Indigenous Peoples and diplomats, professionals and volunteers. Creating such venues for cooperation and knowledge sharing are essential.”

The conference featured over 50 dedicated plenary, keynote and thematic sessions on the topics of search and rescue, health preparedness, wildland fires, marine environmental response, radiological and nuclear preparedness, and community preparedness. In addition, two workshops were held on the topics of Arctic Indigenous Knowledge mobilization and Arctic oil spill research and development.

“People who live in the Arctic are used to harsh weather and conditions such as long distances between communities. However, environmental changes and human activities are posing increasing risks to Arctic inhabitants, especially Indigenous Peoples,” said Ole Kristian Bjerkemo, Chair of EPPR. “Emergency management in the Arctic is fast-changing, and this conference has been crucial to strengthen our understanding and improve our cooperation on the local, regional and international levels.”

In addition to the conference program, an exhibition and poster presentations were organized by Nord University, Center for Crisis Management and Collaboration – Nordlab, featuring 25 posters and 15 booths showcasing key research on and innovations in emergency management in the Arctic and beyond.

“Bringing in discussions about contemporary research and innovation from Arctic universities, displaying work of both young and experienced researchers and practitioners, contributes to safer communities and enhances trust between authorities, academia and practitioners,” said Natalia Andreassen, professor at Nord University.

At the end of the conference, each thematic track summarized the main themes discussed and lessons learned.

Community preparedness: Effective emergency management requires robust cooperation and integration of Indigenous Knowledge. Communities are on the frontlines, already grappling with the impacts of climate change. There is an urgent need for adaptive and resilient strategies, as well as robust and sustained funding.

Health preparedness: There is a need for greater focus on social, mental and physical preparedness on the local, regional and international levels. Health preparedness should be addressed with cultural competence, and Indigenous Peoples must be an integral and natural part of any project, initiative or concern that affects them.

Marine environmental response: The challenges in the field of oil spill response cannot be addressed alone. Cooperation and collaboration among regulators, industries, communities, and the science research community is important.

Wildland fires: The Arctic Emergency Management Conference marked the conclusion of the Norwegian Chairship's Wildland Fires Initiative. Future work in the Arctic Council on this topic should utilize the knowledge, shared initiatives and engagement generated by the initiative. While wildland fires always start local, they quickly become regional and have international impacts. Cooperation is key to tackling this urgent issue.

Radiological and nuclear preparedness: There are new and emerging risks, such as small modular reactors and new shipping routes, that require cooperation. There is a need for cooperation with those outside of the radiation field, including those who work with search and rescue operations. An all-hazards approach to emergency management in small Arctic communities will help them respond to future challenges and improve emergency preparedness.

Search and rescue: Small Arctic communities will not only be affected by disasters, but they will also be the first responders. Indigenous Knowledge must be integrated in search and rescue in the Arctic. As search and rescue resources are scarce and dispersed in the Arctic, there is a need to cooperate bi-laterally, internationally and across sectors.