Interview with Morten Høglund, Norway’s Senior Arctic Official

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

What gives me most energy is meeting people, at conferences, meetings and of course in communities in the Arctic. This is what really informs me: talking to people, seeing how people live, how the Arctic is evolving, which challenges and opportunities the region is facing. In short, everything that I can do outside of the office, is what I really look forward to the most.

What are some of the challenges that you see for the Arctic Council that you are looking forward to tackling in your new position?

The Arctic Council has evolved over the past 25 years since its establishment. Its activities are numerous and its projects plenty. We need to make sure that what we are doing is beneficial for the region and its people, so people can live, work and thrive in the Arctic. We need to tackle the issues that are most critical for a sustainable development of the region, while taking care of the environment. Our task is to stay focused and not to lose sight of the most important issues. There are many things we could do, but I think we need to make sure that we stay on track. Prioritization is important.

What would you see as some of these priorities?

Of course, tackling climate change, but also making sure that the industry is of the highest standard, that transport is sustainable, and that people in the communities are thriving. There are unique differences across the regions, there is not one recipe that fits all. But we can learn from each other, from local communities and Indigenous Peoples, sharing experiences and invest in people. In a couple of years, we do not want to read about Arctic communities in history books only, we want them to be thriving. The pandemic has also shown us some lessons, we need to learn from these and create good communities for everybody including women, children, and elderly, and that is a huge challenge. We have to come together as an Arctic family and support each other.

What are some your most memorable Arctic experiences?

I have been very privileged to travel to many beautiful places, seeing glaciers calving in Ilulissat and talking to Nenets reindeer herders – these are experienced you will never forget. My passion for the Arctic I take from the beauty of the region but even more so from the people, they are the true identity of the Arctic.