The 18th Polar Law Symposium held in Nuuk, Greenland, on 22-24 October 2025
The 18th Polar Law Symposium was held in Nuuk, hosted by the University of Greenland (Ilisimatusarfik), from October 22 to 24, 2025, marking a significant milestone for Arctic scholarship and governance.
The event, titled “Indigenous Rights, Autonomy, Empowerment & Environment,” brought together over 150 participants, including scholars, policymakers, and Indigenous representatives, to discuss the evolving legal and political landscapes of the world’s polar regions.
Nuuk is once again offered to host the symposium, following its first event in 2011, which reflects Greenland’s growing role in global Arctic dialogue. Organised in collaboration with the University of Akureyri (Iceland) and supported by the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, the University of the Arctic, and its Arctic Law Thematic Network, the gathering explored themes such as decolonisation, self-government, environmental governance, and the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and international law.
Keynote speakers to the conference included Sara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council; Alan Hemmings, Professor at the University of Canterbury; and Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council for 2025–27. Their perspectives enriched discussions at a time when Greenland stands at the forefront of Arctic governance—especially as the Kingdom of Denmark assumes the chairmanship of the Arctic Council during the same period. The symposium promises to serve not only as an academic forum but also as a platform for empowerment, giving voice to Indigenous communities whose rights and knowledge systems are central to the sustainable future of the Arctic and Antarctic regions.