Step off the plane in Reykjavík and you’ll catch that signature hint of sulphur in the air—no pollution, just pure geothermal vibes! 🌋 In fact, about 90% of Icelandic homes tap into natural underground heat, making this island one of the greenest spots on Earth.
This Oct, nearly 70 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East flocked to the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík. From Arctic governance and sustainability to protecting Indigenous communities and turbocharging scientific collaboration, the jam-packed agenda reflects why the Arctic is on everyone’s radar.
Day one’s headline – grabber panel even asked: "Trump and Putin in the same room—can multilateralism survive in the Arctic?" 🔥 It’s a perfect snapshot of today’s geopolitical rollercoaster, where can-we-still-collaborate questions dominate.
Under the hood, debates are heating up over Russia’s role—should the West decouple from a country that controls nearly half of the Arctic? Germany’s Ambassador to Iceland, Clarissa Duvigneau, laid it out straight: "Let’s not ignore the reason we’re not working with Russia—they attacked our neighbours."
Since Russia’s 2022 chairmanship, the baton moved to Norway in May 2023, with Denmark now holding the top spot in the Arctic Council. Observers from the Chinese mainland, India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore have been in the mix since 2013.
But it’s not all politics. Former Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson—who now leads the Arctic Circle nonprofit—warned we’re "close to a tipping point." He’s ringing the alarm on how geopolitical friction could sideline vital science projects that track ice melt, wildlife shifts and our planet’s pulse 🌍🚀.
Whether you’re into clean energy, multilateral diplomacy or just curious about life at the top of the world, the Arctic Circle Assembly is the place to watch. Stay tuned—this is one frontier that affects us all! 🙌❄️
Reference(s):
'We're close to a tipping point,' Arctic Circle chairman tells CGTN
cgtn.com
