by Mingming Shi
1) The Barents Observer shared an interview with Kalle Kankaanpää, the Finnish Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, about regional affairs from the perspective of his country. The ambassador highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation in terms of scientific research and combating consequences of climate change on Indigenous groups, such as Sámi communities, along with stressing the need to maintain peace in the region between great powers. Regarding relations with Russia in Arctic affairs, the ambassador suggested the burden of proof rested on Moscow to demonstrate that it once again can be a responsible global collaborator.
2) The Government of Finland has announced that it had begun drafting the specifics of a tourist tax, which municipalities would apply to both domestic and international visitors. According to this news, the potential tax framework in preparation is primarily focused on short-term accommodations, such as hotels, and if the proposed legislation is adopted, municipalities can decide whether to implement this tax locally. Several tourism-heavy destinations in Europe have already introduced similar taxation policies, such as Barcelona in Spain and Venice in Italy.
3) As much of Europe is being buffeted by energy price hikes, caused by the cutoff of imports from Russia since 2022 and the aftershocks of the conflict in Iran and the interdiction of the Strait of Hormuz, Norway, according to the New York Times, is being widely viewed as a safe alternative supplier. Although Norway is seen as a stable and reliable supplier of fossil fuels, there are concerns about the effects of oil drilling in the Norwegian Arctic on climate change, as well as ethical dilemmas surrounding the country’s profits from oil sales after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began four years ago.
4) As the High North News reported, the first-ever Alaska Inuit Arctic Strategy was formally presented by the Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska, at the Arctic Encounter Summit in Anchorage. The document, entitled ‘A Statement to the World for the Arctic We Want’, underlines five priorities, namely strengthening Inuit-led development and conservation, acting on climate change affecting Inuit communities, protecting Inuit leadership in maritime management, reserving and securing Inuit food resources and culture, enhancing Inuit communities’ wellbeing. Meanwhile, a normative commentary published in Arctic Today also argued that local communities should have greater control over Arctic mining development projects in the region.
Over the Circle 