The need for capacity building in the North has never been more urgent.
By Outi Snellman, Secretary General, UArctic
Climate change continues to reshape northern environments and ways of life, while global political shifts impact Arctic cooperation and even the very sovereignty of regions. At the same time, new opportunities emerge. Advances in renewable energy, digital connectivity, and sustainable economies can provide new pathways for Arctic resilience – if we invest in the people who will create these solutions. People and Peoples in the Arctic will need to have the capacity and skill sets to form their own futures.
For the 2025 issue of Shared Voices, we invited UArctic Thematic Networks and Institutes, Chairs, and our nearly 200 member institutions to share stories about their efforts in capacity building through education and knowledge sharing. We were overwhelmed by the number of excellent suggestions for articles, and only some of them in the end could be included in this edition.
As we celebrate this year’s Shared Voices theme of capacity building, let us reaffirm our commitment to enhancing human capacity in the North. The future of the Arctic will be shaped by those who call it home, and by those who support them in learning, growing, and leading – one learner at a time.
