Today, 21 November, was the final day in the Arctic Pavilion at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku.

The second session of the MSU Marine Research Centre and the Arctic Portal was devoted to biodiversity research in the seas of the Russian Arctic.
Current global climate trends are transforming the Arctic environment and in particular marine ecosystems. Those changes are leading to the further opening the Arctic for various human activities which may significantly impact marine and coastal environment. To understand current status, risks and upcoming changes and anthropogenic impacts there is a need for ongoing research and monitoring including through regional and international cooperation. The session will discuss these topics and consider how this also may help to contribute to the implementation of marine elements of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Also today, the Northern Forum Executive Director Vladimir Vasiliev attended the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) session at the Cryosphere Pavilion. The APECS session is a continuation of the event in the Arctic Pavilion. Vladimir Vasiliev spoke about how the Northern Forum supports young people in science. APECS needs to expand its network, to establish contacts with indigenous youth and in this the Northern Forum can be unequivocally helpful.

The last session of the Arctic Pavilion was hosted by the Nuclear For Climate and the American Nuclear Society. The session discussed the importance of bringing renewable energy to local communities in the Arctic, including small nuclear power plants, and how important it is for local communities to understand and embrace new technologies that improve lives and ensure sustainable systems.

«COP29 is the largest climate change conference and this year it is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. We would like to say a word of great gratitude to our partners, the Andrey Melnichenko Foundation, for their assistance in creating and organising the first Arctic Pavilion in the history of the Conference. The Pavilion attracted very serious attention. The Conference included 46 sessions initiated by organisations from all continents, dozens of speeches and talks, and this shows that Russia pays great attention to the development and protection of the Arctic», said Vladimir Vasiliev.

The most sincere and warmest words of gratitude to our main partner - Andrey Melnichenko Foundation! The Foundation supported both the 5th Northern Sustainable Development Forum and the Arctic Pavilion, extending the boundaries of co-operation to the whole world for all participants!