Report on The 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly
Reported by Hiroyuki ENOMOTO (NIPR)
The 2024 Arctic Assembly was held from October 17 to 19 at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center in Reykjavik, Iceland, and was attended by more than 2,500 participants from 75 countries, with more than 700 speakers making presentations and taking part in panel discussions in more than 250 sessions.
In addition to the traditional plenary and breakout sessions of the Assembly, the Polar Dialogue and Business Forum were planned this year, with a separate venue. The Polar Dialogue also included a session in which government officials from each country were interviewed one by one. Now in its eleventh year, the number of participants and sessions has increased, as has the number of parallel sessions. Furthermore, since multiple buildings were used this year and the Assembly was held in person, participants could only participate in a limited number of sessions. Some panels are expected to deliver recorded video, however this will only be a small part of the total.
I spoke in the following three sessions, of which about five marine researchers from Japan also participated in the Synoptic Arctic Survey session. Also, Japanese speakers attended several panels with ambassadors in charge of the Arctic as well as the science and foreign policy discussion sessions.
1. Responding to Arctic Climatic Changes Impacting Asia: Society and Collaborations
2. Achievements of Japan’s Arctic Cooperation
3. Polar Dialogue, Status of Antarctic
*Session 1 was organized by ArCS II.
In the session 1, the topic of Arctic environmental changes and their impact on Asia, as promoted by ArCS II, was raised. Representatives of polar research institutes in Asia introduced related activities. While answering questions from the audience, the opportunity to discuss issues and future directions was provided. This session was held in response to a proposal from Japan with the understanding and cooperation of the directors of the polar research institutes from China, Korea, and India.
The background of the session was that the rapid warming of the Arctic is affecting the weather and environment of the region and is also having a dramatic impact on Asia (the Far East). In addition, the national science investment and implementation, the results, and future plans were introduced. Japan and Korea introduced the results of research on the outflow of cold air from the Arctic to Asia. Japan introduced the movement in which the results of research on cutoff lows are being used in society through weather forecasting. China reported on the installation of observatory stations and research activities in the Arctic Ocean and land, and India reported that climate change will have an impact on India, where a large population is concentrated, and mentioned that scientific understanding, prediction, and social response are urgent issues. There were questions from the audience about the relationship with the Arctic Council, human resource development, and data sharing. In response to these, the initiatives of the respective countries were introduced. Japan introduced its efforts in the Arctic Council Working Group, human resource development, followed by the state of young participants and the system for data disclosure.
At the end of the Assembly, a summary panel of the Polar Dialogue, which started this time, was held. It was impressive that Miyuki Qiajunnguaq Daorana, who also interacts with Japanese researchers in Greenland, participated in the panel discussion in the plenary as a youth representative and played an active role.