A Panel Session at the Arctic Spirit Conference by the UArctic Chair in Arctic Legal Research and Education

PC: Anshukova Zhanna 

The session, titled "Interpolar Dialogue: Bridging Knowledge Between the Arctic and the Third Pole," was a featured event at the Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit Conference, held from May 5 to 7, 2025 in Rovaniemi, Finland. This international biennial conference has long been a focal point for in-depth discussions on Arctic issues, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and civil society actors to explore the multifaceted dimensions of Arctic security—ranging from traditional geopolitical concerns to emerging environmental, human, and climate-related risks.

The Interpolar Dialogue session was jointly organized by Santosh Kumar Rauniyar, representing the Ocean Policy Research Institute/Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) in Japan, and Kamrul Hossain, the UArctic Chair of Legal Research and Education at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. Their leadership in convening this session highlighted a growing recognition of the interconnected challenges shared by the Arctic and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) regions—two of the world’s most climate-sensitive and ecologically critical areas.

The session aimed to foster transregional scientific exchange and deepen mutual understanding of environmental security challenges arising from cryosphere degradation, such as glacial retreat and permafrost thawing, and growing water insecurity—a pressing concern in both polar and high-mountain environments. As these challenges transcend national boundaries, the session served as a crucial platform for knowledge co-production, policy dialogue, and collaborative research across disciplines and regions.

Moderated by Santosh Rauniyar, the panel brought together a distinguished group of experts, including Kamrul Hossain, representing the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law (NIEM); Medy Dervovic, a researcher affiliated with both the Arctic Centre and Reykjavik University; and Marco Volpe, a Ph.D. candidate at the Arctic Centre, whose academic work focuses on governance and environmental resilience. These panelists offered diverse disciplinary perspectives—from legal and political frameworks to scientific and policy-oriented analyses—highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches to climate governance.

Co-organized with support from the University of Lapland’s Arctic Centre, the session was explicitly designed to bridge the geographic, epistemological, and institutional divides between the Arctic and High Mountain Asia, often referred to as the “Third Pole.” The session underscored the urgency of harmonized governance strategies, calling for adaptive policy frameworks capable of responding to complex climate-related challenges. In doing so, the panel emphasized the importance of inclusive policy-making, locally-informed adaptation strategies, and international cooperation as foundational elements for effective environmental governance.

By spotlighting shared vulnerabilities and opportunities for learning between the Arctic and HKH regions, the Interpolar Dialogue session made a compelling case for enhancing transregional cooperation in climate science and governance. It laid the groundwork for future partnerships and reaffirmed the role of academic and research institutions in shaping sustainable, resilient futures for some of the planet's most fragile ecosystems.