Business programme 2022

The provision of quality medical care to residents of the Arctic in the way we are accustomed to is difficult due to the sparsely populated territory and the scattered nature of settlements. The main problem has become attracting healthcare personnel. It is crucial to find harmonious solutions that can either develop the existing principles of healthcare management or introduce new mechanisms, while ensuring a seamless transition period and new models for funding medicine. Should we continue using universal standards to provide medical care in the Arctic, or would it be better to develop special (Arctic) standards that take into account the unique features of this territory? If so, what should they be? How can we ensure the quality and availability of medical care in the Russian Arctic?

One of the things that makes the Russian Arctic unique is that it has large cities, whereas other countries in this region mainly have small or rotational forms of settlement. Furthermore, the Russian Arctic features a high degree of urbanization: almost 90% of its inhabitants are urban residents who have regular demand for comfort, convenience, safety, and a high quality of services. However, the region’s unique and extreme natural and climatic conditions have a significant impact on construction and the development of an urban environment, which makes it difficult or even impossible to effectively implement infrastructure projects. In addition, the harsh climate has a negative impact on the psychological and emotional health and satisfaction of local residents. So can we live comfortably in the North or do we need to adhere to the paradigm of minimizing contact with the environment by creating closed engineering and architectural solutions (a dome)? How can we support Arctic cities on their difficult path towards urban development? How can we develop an integrated process to improve settlements that are in a state of decline? How can we achieve the same level of environmental quality in the Arctic as the national average? What specific tools are there for working with the environment of the North? How can we solve the problem whereby regulatory documents concerning construction and urban land improvement are not consistent with the needs of the North? Does a city need open public spaces in such a harsh climate? How have ideas about the best architectural and planning solutions for the Arctic changed, and what new forms are now being recognized in northern architecture?

Urbanization has occurred in the Arctic largely due to the industrial development of the region. In the Arctic settlement system, not only cities, but also small settlements serve as bases for the development of vast areas of resources, ensure the stability and adaptation of personnel, and perform important social functions. Due to the importance and uniqueness of their functions, many of them serve as bases for the development of the entire Arctic territory. Since many settlements in the Arctic have a close relationship with resource territories that are ‘beholden’ to them, industrial enterprises play an unprecedentedly prominent role in their development. Business and its corporate social responsibility programmes often become a tool to support key settlements in the Arctic and drivers of large-scale changes in them. The example of Norilsk’s renovation shows that such changes can only take place with the joint efforts of both business and the government. Why should a business invest in the development of the territories where it operates? What tools and mechanisms can the experience of other countries offer? Do companies and the government need new cities? How can we take a systematic approach in this regard?

Arctic tourism is a powerful magnet for attracting tourists and a significant source of income that is comparable to industry and transport in terms of its scale. The tourism industry could become an important and sustainable component in the socioeconomic development of all regions of the Russian Arctic, which will help lay the foundation for and create modern trends in the development of Arctic tourism, highlight the identity of the territories, and shape a portrait of a responsible tourist. Tourists from all over the world are attracted by the natural beauty of the Arctic. They are able to see this amazing and mysterious land with their own eyes and learn about the unique culture, way of life, and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the North. Cruise tourism is one of the most promising types of tourism in the Russian Arctic. Such gems as the Franz Josef Land Archipelago, Wrangel Island, and the Taymyr Peninsula attract travellers who are ready to pay a high price for such a trip. At the same time, there are regularly such issues as a shortage of ships, the safety of navigation, the readiness of coastal infrastructure, the openness of certain water sections for cruise ships, and making arrangements for the disembarkation of passengers.

History is cyclical. Global trends in environmental care, the concept of responsible consumption, healthy eating practices, and harmonious existence with nature are closely related to the historical way of life of peoples of the Arctic. But whereas in the past life ‘in the tundra’ was exotic, it is now taking on a new form as transport infrastructure and communication technologies develop. COVID-19 has shown that we can live and work anywhere with the Internet. Online training and even online medicine are available, and there are delivery services. So why not live in a place where the philosophy of harmony with nature still reigns supreme? Live in such a way that you can preserve the identity of the peoples of the Arctic in the era of globalization. Experts in this session will discuss an international project on the ‘Children of the Arctic’ information and educational portal as well as the new values that are taking shape around the established traditions of the peoples of the Arctic. Everything was conceived before we came: what can we learn from the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic? New meanings: what specialists can reach their potential in the North? A look into the future: what would you like the North to look like in ten years? Is ethnotourism a new driver of the Arctic economy?

The Arctic has always been a region of ideas, where human creativity and creative energy have been expressed for centuries. The roundtable is dedicated to the humanitarian development of the Arctic, an analysis of the role that museums play in preserving its cultural and historical heritage, as well as an understanding of current trends in international cooperation in the Arctic as part of museum, cultural, and educational projects. The humanization of the Arctic regions is becoming a new trend and a necessity of the 21st century. What kind of humanitarian resources does the Arctic have? What can society gain from developing humanitarian resources in the Arctic and for the Arctic? What successful practices and barriers exist for integrating the experience gained by museums of the circumpolar zone, and how does such integration contribute to individual cultural institutions, local communities, countries, and the global world today? How are museums involved in the dynamic changes that are taking place in the Arctic region and what is their role in these changes today?

Russia’s Hectare in the Arctic programme offers new land with great potential and unique opportunities to people not only living in the Arctic zone, but to all Russian citizens. The programme was introduced in August 2021 and has already established itself as an effective tool for the socioeconomic development and support of the northern territories. The programme’s interim results have identified clear leaders among the regions in the Arctic zone. What is the Murmansk region’s experience in developing household plots and individual housing construction on the new hectares? How has the life of Murmansk residents changed with the advent of the Hectare in the Arctic programme? How is the Republic of Karelia implementing tourism and recreation projects on land plots received under the programme? What is the international experience of Alaska and Norway in developing the northern territories?

The government’s goal is for 70 percent of the Russian population to become involved in sports by 2030. What progress has been made in achieving national goals in sports in the Arctic zone? What sports programmes are being implemented by leading companies in the regions where their enterprises operate? What measures are being taken to develop national sports that are part of the cultural code of the peoples of the North? Are these territories ready to host high-profile international competitions, and what role does sport play in enhancing the tourism attractiveness of the Arctic zone?

Indigenous peoples live in more than 90 countries around the world. This includes 47 indigenous peoples in Russia and more than a third of them traditionally live in the Arctic. Indigenous peoples have made it their shared priority to preserve their original habitat, ties with their lands, culture, and their unique socioeconomic way of life. Achieving these goals depends on the effectiveness of international cooperation, the efforts of government structures, the social responsibility of business, as well as indigenous peoples’ own activities. What are the priorities of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council, state regulation practices, corporate business policies, projects to ensure the sustainable development and rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the indigenous peoples’ own view of their priorities in the constantly changing modern world?

Heavy migration of people from the Arctic regions has resulted in an increase in the number of uninhabited settlements, the worsening of demographic problems, and a shortage of personnel in socially significant professions. Companies in the Arctic can partially solve staffing problems by bringing in shift workers. However, experts believe that in order to solve the problem of the outflow of the population, it is essential to create comfortable living conditions and infrastructure, develop business, and make the region attractive to investors. Non-profit and public organizations, foundations, and CSR programmes make a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life and also enhance the appeal of the Arctic for young people by creating conditions for education and development, informing them about economic opportunities in the region, holding career guidance events, and also forming a talent pool in the regions. What difficulties do organizations face when making social investments in the regions? How can we build sustainable interaction between the government, NPOs, and companies to attract people to the Arctic region and retain them?

Today, the Arctic is not only a territory of minerals, oil, and gas, but also a territory of indigenous culture, art, music, scientific and technological solutions, and projects in the development of human capital. The northern territory is traditionally associated with male characters, but there is a high level of gender equality in the Russian Arctic. The ratio of women to men is about 49% to 51%. In overcoming social stereotypes about gender roles, many women have tied their lives to the Arctic from the very outset of its active exploration and development. In the modern realities, women are also actively involved in preserving the unique ecosystem and identity of the Russian north, as well as in designing the future of the Arctic. What role do women play in developing the Arctic region? What projects are women implementing to develop and preserve the northern territories? What professions and career opportunities are there for women? How can we create favourable conditions to build an identity, taking into account the climatic and cultural features of the Indigenous Peoples of the North? What mechanisms should be implemented to promote inclusion, equality, and social cohesion as well as to ensure the identification of Arctic culture?