Arctic Organizations Share Experience at International Forum of Associations and Consortiums of the Northern Territories in Tomsk

Participants in the International Forum of Associations and Consortiums of the Northern Territories, which was held in Tomsk on 20–22 April, discussed prospects for the implementation of joint projects by Arctic organizations. The event is part of the plan of events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, which are managed by the Roscongress Foundation.

The main goal of the Forum was to provide its participants with an international and interdisciplinary platform for associations and consortiums of the Arctic and subarctic areas to exchange experience, recap the results of their research, and identify prospects and areas for further cooperation for the sustainable development of northern territories.

More than 400 researchers and representatives of the government as well as industrial and scientific organizations took part in the Forum. A number of decisions were adopted at the Forum that will expand research in hard-to-reach areas, help to introduce the developments of the Forum participants in regions with extreme climatic conditions, and establish new working relationships between scientists implementing climate projects.

A separate section of the Forum was dedicated to the Indigenous peoples of the North and their contribution to Arctic exploration. In addition, new alloys for icebreakers and materials with increased strength and wear resistance that could be used in oil and gas production were presented as part of a section with industrial partners.

During the Forum, the participants decided to make it an annual platform for interaction between scientists who specialize in Arctic and subarctic research and for the presentation of new technical developments whose functional features could help them be effectively introduced even in the most severe climatic conditions.

The International Forum of Associations and Consortiums of the Northern Territories was organized by the Administration of the Tomsk Region, National Research Tomsk State University, the Tomsk Consortium of Scientific, Educational, and Scientific Organizations, the SecNet International Network for the Study of Changes in the Siberian Environment, the Northern Forum International Organization of the Northern Regions, the National Arctic Scientific and Educational Consortium, and the Russian-Asian Consortium for Arctic Research. The event was held with the support of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic.

Russia is chairing the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of the chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance over the sustainable development of the Arctic. The comprehensive programme of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council aims to promote cooperation to improve the well-being and quality of life of the Arctic population, including the Indigenous peoples of the North, adapt the Arctic to the effects of climate change, conserve the biodiversity and unique ecosystems of the Arctic, ensure socioeconomic development, find solutions in matters concerning global energy and transport security, promote scientific cooperation in high latitudes, and strengthen Arctic cooperation.