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Arctic Youth and Sustainable Futures

Arctic Youth and Sustainable Futures is a cooperative research project led by the Stefansson Arctic Institute. The project convenes an international and interdisciplinary working group of Arctic scholars, many of whom have participated in projects such as the Arctic Human Development Report and Arctic Social Indicators (AHDR II and ASI II), alongside Arctic youth representatives, to investigate and conduct research on the needs, opportunities, and aspirations of Arctic youth, to fill an identified gap in knowledge on the lives, ambitions, needs and challenges of youth – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – across the circumpolar Arctic.

In recent decades, numerous research projects focusing on the Arctic and its residents have been carried out, identifying certain gaps in existing knowledge about Arctic youth. The Arctic Youth and Sustainable Futures project aims to collect data to directly address these gaps and investigate how the future of the Arctic is directly linked to the young people living in the region. The project is based on focus group discussions, surveys, and detailed interviews with young people living in Arctic regions.

The Icelandic part of the project takes place in Akureyri where researchers select a group of young people aged 18–24 years old to participate in focus group discussions. The results from Iceland are fundamental to enabling a comparison of where Icelandic youth stands in relation to other young people living in the Arctic.

Seven key points about the main premises and objectives of the Arctic Youth project are listed below:

  1. The future of young people living within the Arctic region is explored through their wishes, ideas, interests, and ambitions in light of challenges they face in a changing world. The research will examine their perspectives on lifestyle, education, residence, environmental factors, and impacts of, and adaption to, climate change.
  2. Cultural, linguistic, societal, and economic changes and developments will follow and conform to young people’s decision-making. Understanding their aspirations and challenges is therefore crucial. Too many young people face social alienation that can lead to substance abuse or suicide. The research and analysis will address questions pertinent to these issues and contribute valuable insights that will inform policymaking in this regard.
  3. A deeper understanding of the importance of general education, especially for young people and men in peripheral regions, is needed. What role can higher education levels and technological advancements play in local education and employment opportunities? What can be the role of greater educational knowledge and improved technological skills when it comes to shaping young people’s perspectives and providing them with attractive prospects for the future? What type of investments in strategic human resources are essential to encourage young people to remain in the north or return to the Arctic after gaining experiences elsewhere? This project explores how to make education more appealing for young people, how to strengthen the link between parents and municipalities, and how community participation in formal education decision-making can be increased. Additionally, it examines how informal education can enrich the formal learning environment.
  4. The emerging trend of urbanization in the Arctic and the concentration of the population in larger, permanent settlements have led to significant economic impacts and affected available resources with respect to aspirations and developments of formal education in peripheral areas. This research will examine these issues in the context of the migration and mobility of young people in the Arctic, paying particular attention to factors such as gender and nationality.
  5. Global interest in the Arctic has grown, largely due to rapid climate change, new opportunities for resource utilization, and heightened media coverage of these issues. This surge in interest has enhanced the “marketability“ of the region, turning the brand “Arctic” into an asset. The project aims to explore how young people perceive their place within this environment and their views on marketing the Arctic.
  6. The growing interest in meaningful participation in decision-making processes, along with continued innovation in Arctic governance, can be explored at all levels. The project raises questions about the expectations of Arctic youth regarding governance, self-determination and autonomy, fate control, and the prospects of increased representation of Arctic residents in regional, national, and international institutions.
  7. The potential of mining has generated high expectations, but other industries are also showing signs of growth. Young people in the Arctic are asked about their aspirations for economic independence, career choices, and opportunities connected to both traditional and green economies, as well as the impacts of globalization.

The project's primary objective is to publish a peer-reviewed book in the TemaNord series, published by the Nordic Council of Ministers. This publication will present the research findings, which include discussions with Arctic youth, a summary of relevant literature, in-depth analyses, and reflections on current knowledge gaps related to human development and the sustainable futures of Arctic youth.

Project Manager

Dr. Joan Nymand Larsen, Senior Scientist and Research Director at the Stefansson Arctic Institute, and Professor at the University of Akureyri.

Scientific Advisor

Dr. Jón Haukur Ingimundarson, Senior Scientist and Anthropologist at the Stefansson Arctic Institute, and Associate Professor at the University of Akureyri.

The project received funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers.