PRESS RELEASE 2022

The XII International Forum «Arctic: Today and the Future»: development of the Arctic in the context of global changes. Forum dates and accents determined

The XII International Forum «Arctic: Today and the Future» will be held in St. Petersburg on December 8-9, 2022. The main task of the event will be to unite efforts to ensure a sustainable future for the macro-region in a period of global geopolitical and economic changes. .

The development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is a strategic priority of the state and a guarantee of the well-being of our country. In the new conditions, synchronizing efforts and strengthening dialogue among participants in Arctic activities, including within the framework of Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council, is of paramount importance for the solution of these objectives.

The specifics of the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is that the territory is more sensitive to any changes than other regions of the Russian Federation, be it climate change, new economic conditions or technological limitations. Today the macro-region is facing such challenges as the termination of cooperation with many foreign partners, the re-orientation of logistics to the East, the lack of technology and equipment to solve strategic tasks, the lack of personnel and competencies to implement Arctic projects. The issues are still relevant: adaptation to climate change, development of the Northern Sea Route, preservation of ecosystems, support for indigenous peoples of the Arctic, modernization and construction of infrastructure, transport limitations, problems with communication in some areas, etc.

The main accents of the business programme in 2022 are: responsible management in the new conditions, finding solutions to remove restrictions that have emerged in connection with sanctions, adaptation to climate change, the development of human capital in the Arctic, establishing an international public dialogue, the involvement of all entities of our country in the Arctic projects.

«In an unstable world, we need to unite to achieve tasks in the Arctic. Despite the freezing of cooperation by some Western partners, we are not relinquishing these tasks. I believe that non-governmental scientific and youth cooperation in the societal dimension must be maintained regardless of relations between countries. There are still many people and organizations in the West who care about the Arctic and want to continue cooperation despite the position of their governments. In addition, there are many non-regional states that are willing to get involved in Arctic projects. The Forum «Arctic: Today and the Future» is a proven tool of public diplomacy on Arctic projects», , says President of the Association of Polar Explorers, Special Representative to the President of the Russian Federation on International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, Deputy of the State Duma Artur Chilingarov.

Special attention will be given to important dates for the Arctic, which are celebrated in 2022: 90 years of the Northern Sea Route; 85 years of the world's first drifting scientific station «North Pole-1»; 15 years of the high-latitude deep-water expedition «Arktika-2007». Separate events will be devoted to these events at the Forum.

The Forum annually gathers over 2,000 participants. During the two-day business program and exhibition, representatives of government authorities, heads of Russian companies, leading experts from the scientific community, media, and civil society will discuss comprehensive and strategic solutions for the socio-economic development of the Arctic zone and develop tactical steps for their implementation, present national projects in the Arctic, and assess the investment potential and opportunities of the northern regions.

The event is organized by the Association of Polar Explorers with the support and participation of both chambers of the Russian Federal Assembly, the Russian Government, the State Commission for Arctic Development, the Russian Ministry for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic and other relevant ministries and departments.

The Forum will be held with the support of the General Partner - MMC Norilsk Nickel, partner PJSC Novatek and partner of the section - JSC Research Center of Construction; General Information Partner - Information Agency of Russia "TASS".
The environmental sponsor of the Forum was VTB Bank PJSC
Special partner of the Forum - non-profit organization "Polar Foundation".