Map 

About the Symposium 2010

The Changing Arctic and Its Global Implications

Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard,  June 21–23, 2010

This year’s high-level symposium  in Ny-Ålesund will focus on climate change in the Arctic and its global implications.  The  Arctic warming is about twice as fast as the global warming. It already has impacts on local peoples of the Arctic and the environment. But it also has global implications like amplification of global warming, sea-level rise, and changes of the geopolitical situation of the region linked to shipping and enhanced accessibility to mineral and petroleum resources. The immediate and long-term actions we must take globally to avoid the worst impacts will be discussed at the symposium.

Our aim is to strengthen the dialogue between government, the science community and business and industry on issues such as:

  • Climate change: Most recent science update
  • Arctic climate change: Impacts and mitigation
  • New technology with global potential: Challenges, policies and examples
  • Global solutions: What does an acceptable post-Copenhagen architecture look like?

Host
The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre will be the host of this year's symposium.

Accepted invitations
Former Director General of WHO and former Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland and IEA Director Dr. Fatih Birol have accepted our invitation and will participate in this year's Symposium.

Advisory Committee
Several high level scientists, bureaucrats and people from the industry are working on this year programme.
A part from the members of the Steering Committee, representatives from 5 Ministry (Foreign Affairs, Environment, Trade and Industry, Justice and the Police, Education), Kings Bay, Statkraft and Cicero, we have formed an Advisory Committee.

The members of the Committee are:


Anders Wijkman Former member of the European Parliament, Sweden
Jørgen Randers Professor BI, Norwegian School of Managment, Norway
Kathrine Richardson University of Copenhagen
Karin Lochte Professor and Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute 
Bob Correll The Climate Action Initiative, Chair    
Osvald Bjelland Chairman Xyntéo Ltd, Norway


Last updated: Jan 18, 2010