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This Way Up · September 15 · 50 min

Behind the scenes: Arctic Council at 30

Thirty years after the Arctic Council was established, has it stood the test of time? In this special anniversary episode, we hear from the people who helped build the Arctic Council, shape its work and carry it through some of its most challenging moments. From breaking bureaucratic norms and putting the Arctic on the global agenda, to navigating a changing geopolitical landscape and efforts to retain cooperation, our guests share stories and behind-the-scenes reflections as the Arctic Council moves into a new phase. This episode isn’t just a re-hash about the Council’s history or achievements, but a story about trust, relationships, and friends of the Arctic coming together to tackle shared challenges. As the Arctic Council turns 30 while navigating a new reality, those who know it best reflect on where it has been, what has become and why it still matters. Guests, in order of appearance: The Right Honorable Mary Simon, former Governor General of Canada and lead negotiator for the Arctic Council Chief Bill Erasmus of Arctic Athabaskan Council Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council David Balton of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, U.S. (2015-2017) Benjamin Strong of the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group Morten Høglund, former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials for Norway (2023-2025) Taylor Jobin of the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship Youth Committee Jennifer Spence of the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center The music in this episode is by Emil Kárlsen, used with permission. This Way Up is produced by the Arctic Council Secretariat and Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat. The views expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views of all Arctic States and Permanent Participants.

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Thirty years after the Arctic Council was established, has it stood the test of time?


In this special anniversary episode, we hear from the people who helped build the Arctic Council, shape its work and carry it through some of its most challenging moments. From breaking bureaucratic norms and putting the
Arctic on the global agenda, to navigating a changing geopolitical landscape and efforts to retain cooperation, our guests share stories and behind-the-scenes reflections as the Arctic Council moves into a new phase.


This episode isn’t just a re-hash about the Council’s history or achievements, but a story about trust, relationships, and friends of the Arctic coming together to tackle shared challenges. As the Arctic Council turns 30
while navigating a new reality, those who know it best reflect on where it has been, what has become and why it still matters.


Guests, in order of appearance:


The Right Honorable Mary Simon, former Governor General of Canada and lead negotiator for the Arctic Council 


Chief Bill Erasmus of Arctic Athabaskan Council 


Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council 


David Balton of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, U.S. (2015-2017) 


Benjamin Strong of the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group 


Morten Høglund, former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials for Norway (2023-2025) 


Taylor Jobin of the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship Youth Committee 


Jennifer Spence of the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center 


The music in this episode is by Emil Kárlsen, used with permission. This Way Up is produced by the Arctic Council Secretariat and Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat. The views expressed in this podcast are the personal views
of the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the views of all Arctic States and Permanent Participants. 

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