Today, 18 November, events dedicated to the revitalisation of international cooperation in the Arctic took place in Baku at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) at the Arctic Pavilion.

There was a very active, informative and at times emotional discussion on the future of Arctic cooperation, with distinguished experts: Nobel Prize winning professor Terry Callaghan from the UK, founder of the Alaska Marine Exchange, SF Goodwill Ambassador Paul Fuhs from the USA, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group Ramon Pichs Madruga from Cuba, and Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Anton Vasiliev. The issues of climate change, conservation of natural ecosystems, biodiversity, support for indigenous peoples, and youth engagement are definitely areas for supporting active co-operation in the Arctic.

Anton Vasiliev held a session on preparations for the International Polar Year 2032-2033. Experts from Russia, China and India discussed promising projects that could be implemented. The proposal to declare a Polar Decade seems logical, given the exceptional importance of the Arctic, Antarctic and the Third Pole in preserving the natural and climatic balance.

Representatives of the Environmental Educational Foundation «Protected Areas Embassy» and Centre «Zapovedniks» presented an interactive lesson «7 wonders of the Arctics». Through interesting facts they introduce everyone information about the Arctic, the project has interactive content, listeners can add to the list of wonders and look at the Arctic from the most unexpected angles. The project stimulates the desire to learn more and visit this outwardly harsh region. The Northern Forum and the Foundation will co-operate and we are sure that their projects will be of interest to teachers and students of the Northern Forum Schools Association.

Sergey Rybakov, Director General of the Nature and People Foundation, practically gave a master class in organising interesting sessions that attract the audience. Two sessions, one after the other: «Science and Education for Sustainable Development», «Youth and Sustainable Development». The discussion was about the achievement of 17 SDGs and the role of different spheres and layers of population in their realisation. Each goal is scientifically justified and it is up to the young people, who still need to be taught how to achieve them.

The Arctic Pavilion also hosted an informative  conversation about our Arctic in the context of international networks and consortia. The International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic INTERACT (Terry Callaghan presented the Network's experience), the Siberian Network for the Study of Environmental Change SecNet (O. Shaduiko, TSU, D. Troshkin, Institute for Water and Environmental problems, SB RAS, Barnaul, L. Rakhmanova, St. Petersburg), and the Global Earth Changes: Climate, Ecology, Quality of Life consortium (V. Demin, First Vice-Rector of TSU, presented the consortium) presented their stories of cooperation. Each participant who spoke confirmed the main idea of the session: co-operation and mutual understanding between all groups of society is one of the main components of successful scientific research. The event was attended by scientists from Great Britain, Russia, France, China, Mongolia, representatives of indigenous peoples of Russia, Norway. Mikhail Okotetto from Yamal got on call directly from the chum.

On November 11-22, the Northern Forum is hosting the first-of-its-kind Arctic Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The general partner of the Arctic Pavilion is the Melnichenko Foundation, the youth partner is the BRICS Youth Energy Agency. More info: https://arcticpavilion-cop.org

Watch live-streaming of all sessions on the Northern Forum Youtube channel.