The Arctic Circle Podcast

Have you ever wondered why snow is so central to the Arctic environment?

Joining the conversation are:

• Barbara Frigo, Professor, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
• David Cappelletti, Professor, Università di Perugia, Italy
• Claudio Artoni, PhD student, Università Bicocca, Italy

The Session is moderated by Andrea Spolaor, Professor at the Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISP).

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How does Russian propaganda and disinformation impact the Arctic environment, its communities, and the world's understanding of the region?

Joining the conversation are:

• Ksenia Vakhrusheva, Bellona Foundation, Bulgaria
• Andrey Danilov, Sami Activist and Member of the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia
• Benjamin Shultz, Lead Researcher at the American Sunlight Project, Germany
• Liubov Velychko, Freelance Investigative Journalist, Ukraine

The Session is moderated by Yury Sergeev, Arctic Project Advisor at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center, Lithuania.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How can the example of collaboration across Italian institutions and with international partners help strengthen Arctic policy and advance scientific cooperation in one of the world’s most critical regions?

Joining the conversation is Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What contributions can non-Arctic states make to the Arctic region and to the people living in the North across science, innovation, diplomacy, and security?

Joining the conversation are:

• Volker Rachold, Head of the German Arctic Office, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research
• Agostino Pinna, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy
• Claire Buckley, Ambassador of Ireland to Norway and Iceland
• Franziska Hagedorn, Head of the Arctic Policy Division, German Federal Foreign Office
• Piotr Rychlik, Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
• Toomas Lukk, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
• Kenneth Høegh, Arctic Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council

The Session is moderated by Marie Anne Coninsx, Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic and Senior Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute, Belgium.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How is indigenous sovereignty articulated within national, regional, and international legal frameworks in the Arctic?

Joining the conversation are:

• Mona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
• Sara Olsvig, International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council
• Jessica Veldstra, Executive Director of the Aleut International Association
• Federico Lenzerini, Professor of International Law, University of Siena in Italy

The Session is moderated by Sara Riccetti Selim, Analyst at the Centro Studi Italia-Canada.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

Why is the Arctic gaining political relevance on the world stage? What threats and opportunities are consolidating and emerging, and how do Arctic dynamics interconnect with the rest of the world?

Joining the conversation are:

• Claude Véron-Réville, EU Special Envoy for Arctic Matters
• Agostino Pinna, Special Envoy for the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy
• Kenneth Høegh, Arctic Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council
• Andreas Østhagen, Research Director for Arctic and Ocean Politics, Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Norway

The Session is moderated by Michele Valensise, President of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) in Italy.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

As interest in Arctic resources grows, so do the questions surrounding their extraction: who benefits, who bears the risks, and what are the security implications of opening the Arctic to mining?

Joining the conversation are:

• Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor, University of Akureyri, Iceland
• Anna Karlsdóttir, Associate Professor, University of Iceland
• Alexandra Middleton, Assistant Professor, University of Oulu, Finland
• Gabriela Argüello, Associate Senior Lecturer, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

What is the current status of indigenous rights and self-determination in the Arctic? And where must progress move faster, particularly when it comes to climate change and its devastating impact on indigenous communities?

Joining the conversation are:

• Sara Olsvig, International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council
• Jessica Veldstra, Executive Director of the Aleut International Association
• Per-Olof Nutti, President of the Saami Council

The Session is moderated by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue and Former Prime Minister of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

How does the European Union position itself in the Arctic? And what is its role in keeping the region safe and stable, promoting international cooperation, and supporting sustainable and inclusive development?

Joining the conversation is Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans of the European Commission.

The Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org

Is geoengineering going to save the world or risk precipitating further climate crises by interfering with nature? And what international frameworks are needed to ensure it is both responsibly governed and genuinely useful?

Joining the conversation are:

• Dalee Sambo Dorough, Senior Scholar at the University of Alaska Anchorage
• Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge
• Mark Symes, Programme Director at ARIA — Advanced Research and Invention Agency

The Session is moderated by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue and Former Prime Minister of Iceland.

This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. 

Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at [email protected]

TWITTER:
@_Arctic_Circle

FACEBOOK:
The Arctic Circle

INSTAGRAM:
arctic_circle_org