Speaking at Hokkaido University on Arctic–Asia Interconnections!

Kamrul Hossain

On July 4, 2025, I had the opportunity to deliver a talk at the international seminar titled “Asia and the Arctic: Encounters and Entanglements,” hosted at Hokkaido University in Japan. The seminar was jointly organized by several distinguished institutions and networks, including the Arctic Research Center of Hokkaido University, the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) III – Arctic Governance Research Group, the Asia Arctic Network for Research and Education, the UArctic Thematic Network for Asia in the Arctic, and the Arctic in Asia initiative. Held at the Institute for Integrated Innovations, just beside the Arctic Research Center, the event brought together scholars, researchers, and experts who shared insights on how Asia and the Arctic are increasingly intertwined through shared challenges, climate impacts, and policy interests.

The session began with Dr. Juha Saunavaara of Hokkaido University offering an overview of recent developments in Arctic research and collaboration frameworks in Asia. His opening provided important context for the themes that followed, especially about the growing significance of Asia in Arctic discourse.

As one of the early presentations, I introduced the idea of a broader connection between the Arctic and the Third Pole, specifically the Hindukush Himalaya region—an idea I then expanded upon in my talk. I focused on the rationale behind the growing linkages between the Arctic and the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), often referred to as the Third Pole. I discussed how these two geographically distant regions are, in fact, connected in multiple profound ways. One of the key aspects I highlighted was the cryospheric connection. Both the Arctic and the HKH are integral components of the Earth’s cryosphere and are experiencing rapid environmental changes due to global warming. Their glaciers and snowpacks are melting at accelerating rates, contributing not only to sea level rise but also to regional water stress, extreme weather events, ecosystem disruptions, biodiversity loss, and the destruction of cultures and social fabrics.

I also emphasized the human dimensions of these changes. Indigenous and tribal communities inhabit both regions, and many of them are on the frontlines of climate impacts. Though separated by geography, these communities face parallel challenges—disruption of traditional livelihoods, cultural loss, and limited access to decision-making processes in environmental governance. Their stories, knowledge systems, and resilience are essential threads that connect the Arctic and the Third Pole in more than just environmental terms. Another theme I explored was the range of transboundary and cross-regional issues that both the Arctic and the HKH must navigate. Challenges such as water resource management, cross-border pollution, and the far-reaching consequences of climate-induced changes transcend national boundaries. The impacts felt in one part of the world often ripple across entire regions, underscoring the need for cooperative governance and integrated responses.

Finally, I addressed the intricate climatic interactions between the two regions. Oceanic heat distribution influences atmospheric circulation patterns, which in turn affect the South Asian monsoon. The variability of the monsoon, a lifeline for billions of people in the region, can also influence Arctic weather systems in turn. This reciprocal relationship reveals that the Arctic and the HKH are not isolated climate zones but part of a larger, dynamic system with mutual influences and shared vulnerabilities. Recognizing these links is critical to advancing both scientific understanding and policymaking.

The seminar continued with a series of insightful talks. Dr. Martin Kossa of Nord University offered a close look at China’s growing role in Arctic affairs. This was followed by Marina Lomaeva and Artem Suslov from Hokkaido University, who examined how Russia’s approach to the Arctic has shifted in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine, with an increasing pivot toward Asia. Edward Rhys Jones from the University of Oxford concluded the speaker series by discussing how Japan frames its Arctic science diplomacy as a strategic component of its foreign policy. The final discussion session was lively and engaging, bringing together diverse views from participants attending both in-person and online sessions. The dialogue highlighted the urgency of fostering regional collaboration and mutual understanding, particularly in the face of accelerating environmental change and geopolitical shifts.

Participating in this seminar was a rewarding experience. It reinforced my belief that understanding the Arctic’s future requires looking beyond the North itself. The interlinkages between Asia and the Arctic—and between the Arctic and the Third Pole—are not abstract or theoretical; they are grounded in science, lived experiences, and increasingly, in the decisions we make as a global community. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly felt, it is clear that these regions will need to collaborate more closely than ever before, not just through research but through shared responsibility and collective action.