Visit to Nice: Arctic Future Pathfinders

Good morning, everyone!

I am very pleased that we have a dedicated group of young academics on board here today who are interested in learning more about the Arctic. In fact, they are so interested that they will be spending weeks of their lives travelling through the Northwest Passage this fall.

About 15 years ago, I had the good luck to have a similar opportunity. Not nearly as long and strenuous – or academically demanding – as the one you have signed up for, but still:

Back then, Crown Prince – now King – Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and I travelled to Svalbard and to Greenland on board a research vessel to learn about climate change in the Arctic.  

Those expeditions made a deep impression on us and sparked a lifelong engagement. In the Arctic, and in protecting life in this vulnerable and unique part of the world. Three years ago, I had a new chance to study the Arctic first-hand, when I snowkited across Greenland as part of a research expedition organised by the University of Tromsø. This research is vital – to understand the impacts of climate change on the Arctic and the world at large.

Given the complex and fragile nature of this vast area, we need dedicated people with purpose and passion to take us into the future.  So what I would like to say to you, the Arctic Future Pathfinders, is:

Thank you for your commitment. We will need your research, your knowledge and your perspectives to tackle the Arctic issues we are contending with today and those we will be facing tomorrow.

Being an Arctic nation is both a privilege and a responsibility. Norway has a long tradition of working to strike a balance between sustainable use and conservation of ocean areas in the north. This is a never-ending and challenging task, and we still have a lot of work to do.

This event, hosted by the Arctic University of Norway and Memorial University of Newfoundland, brings together scientists, indigenous communities, and young people in an intercultural approach to discussing Arctic challenges and shaping the Arctic future.

This is important – because we need different voices and perspectives to find the best solutions. Close cooperation on cross-border challenges in the Arctic is vital, as we have clearly seen in our work in the Arctic Council, where we just concluded our chairship.

In closing, I would like to thank the organisers for bringing us together here on board Statsraad Lehmkuhl today to discuss Arctic matters. And I wish the Arctic Future Pathfinders the best of luck on their expedition on this ship in a couple of months.

I will be very interested in following your work, your findings and your reflections.

Thank you.