Theme: China-Nordic Synergy towards Sustainability in the Arctic
Took place on 23 - 24 April, 2025 in Shanghai, China
Program
Tuesday, 22nd April 2025
- 14:00 - Hotel Check-in
Wednesday, 23rd April 2025
- 08:00 - 09:00 - Registration
Opening Session
- 09:00 - 09:45 - Opening remarks (5 minutes each)
- Cao Jing - Deputy Party Committee Secretary, Tongji University
- Wang Antao - Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of China
- Long Wei - Deputy Director, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration, State Oceanic Administration of China
- Zhang Beichen - Director of CNARC / Deputy Director of Polar Research Institute of China
- Ágúst Hjörtur Ingþórsson - Director of Icelandic Center for Research (RANNIS)
- Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir - Rector of University of Akureyri
- 09:45 - 10:15 - Group Photo & Coffee Break
- 10:15 - 11:30 - Keynote Presentations
- Nalân Koç - Special Advisor of External Relations, Norwegian Polar Institute
- Zhong Zhenming - Professor, Associate Dean of School of Political Science & International Relations, Tongji University
- Arild Moe - Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI)
- Zhou Wen - Professor, Director of Center for Polar Ice & Snow and Climate Change Research, PRIC
- Sanna Kopra - Research Professor of Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
- Jiang Peng - Researcher, Deputy Director of Division of International Cooperation, Polar Research Institute of China
- 12:00 - 13:30 - Lunch
Thematic Sessions
- 13:30 - 14:45 - Session 1 - The Role of Energy Transition in Response to Climate Change
- Iceland and China Geothermal Collaboration: A Successful Model for Arctic Stakeholders in Climate Action and Sustainable Development - Zhao Xin
- We Make the Future! Utopias of a Climate-Responsible World 2035 - Arctic Snapshots - Sanna Kopra, Liisa Kauppila
- China-Nordic Partnership for Green Transformation in the Arctic Context - Zhao Long
- Paradox of Arctic Energy Transition: A Solution from the Perspective of External Actors - Xue Guifang, Li Fan
- Mining or not Mining? The 2025 Deep-sea Mining Case of Norway and Its Impact on International Conservation of Marine Ecosystem in the Arctic - Liu Dan, Fu Ziluo
- 15:00 - 17:20 - Session 2 - Arctic Ocean - In A Warming Climate
- Menoscale aspects of Weather and Climate in the Arctic - Haraldur Ólafsson
- Science and Technology Governance Resilience: Culture and Social Capital in the MOSAiC Expedition - Su Ping
- The Nansen Legacy - research collaboration towards a new Arctic Ocean - Marit Reigstad
- Strengthened linkage of winter mid-latitudes temperature variability to autumn regional Arctic Sea ice anomalies in a warming period - Ding Shuoyi
- Interdisciplinary Polar Expedition: Exploring the glacial landscapes, and natural ecosystems, and preserving the night skies of the polar regions - Exodus Cl Sit
- Challengesin understanding climate warming caused by aerosols - Zang Liang
- Questions and answers
- Coffee Break
- The Bilateral INTERAAC (air-snow-ice-ocean INTERactions transforming Atlantic Arctic Climate) Collaboration between Norway and China - Guo Wenkai
- The Norwegian Polar Institute's activities and plans for monitoring and research in the central Arctic Ocean - Arild Sundfjord
- Nansen and Amundsen basins: contrasting physio-chemical properties and biota composition with implications for future management in the central Arctic Ocean - Agneta Fransson
- China on the Arctic Council: opportunities for Sino-Norwegian cooperation? - Gørild Heggelund
- Sino-Nordic Arctic Science Diplomacy in the Age of Trump - Rasmus Bertelsen
- Questions and answers
- Coffee Break
- 18:00 - 19:30 - Reception Dinner
Thursday, 24th April 2025
- 08:15 - Departure from Hotel
- 09:00 - 12:00 - Session 3 - Realizing International Cooperation in the Arctic
- China in the Arctic - External Influence on Regional Governance (ArcGov): a research project in review - Iselin Stensdal
- Nordic Security in An Era of Great Change: A God's Perspective - Guo Peiqing
- China-Nordic Cooperation in the Arctic: Progress and Challenges - Liu Hongsong
- Visions for Economic Security in Flux: Development of China's Arctic Engagement - Liisa Kauppila
- Two Different Types of International Norms and the Prospect of Sino-Nordic Arctic Cooperation - Wang Chuanxing
- Tracking participation in the Arctic Council - Anna Ivanova
- When Science Meets Geopolitics: Challenges and Prospects of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation - Zheng Yingqin
- Questions and answers
- Coffee Break
- U.S. perspectives on China's legitimacy in the Arctic: Implications for Arctic Cooperation - Erdem Lamazhapov
- The European Union's Arctic policy in the context of strategic autonomy - Song Lilei
- Navigating China-Nordic research cooperation in turbulent times - Wang Yue
- The co-production model of knowledge in polar science: the China case - Marco Volpe
- How is Regional Governance Possible in Non-cooperative Situation among the Arctic Countries - Liang Lijun
- Probing into the Prospects of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation for Next Decade - Cheng Baozhi
- Questions and answers
- Coffee Break
- 12:00 - 13:30 - Lunch
- 13:30 - 15:15 - Roundtable: International Shipping in the Arctic - the Environmental Dimension
- Practice of COCSO in polar waters - Wang Haiming
- Practise of New Shipping in the Arctic - Wang Zheng (Grace)
- The interrelationship between NSR-shipping and resource extraction - Arild Moe
- Implications of BBNJ EIA on Arctic shipping - Chen Xidi
- NSR traffic 2024 - Kjell Stokvik
- Arctic Green Shipping and Emission Reduction Challenges - Bai Jiayu
- Decarbonizing Arctic shipping - Chen Yitong
- Realizing a More Effective Regulatory Regime for Shipping - Han Jialin
- Economic potential analysis of Arctic Shipping - Luo Ying
- Free Discussion
- Coffe Break
- 15:30 - 16:15 - Book Launch
- Engagement of SHOU in CNARC and Cooperation with FNI - Li Juanying
- Cooperation between Norwegian and Chinese Academia
- Creation of Borderland Russians and Its Implications - Geir Hønneland
- Translation of Borderland Russians and Its Significance - Zou Leilei
- 16:15 - 16:25 - Closing
- 16:30 - 17:45 - CNARC Assembly of Member Institutes and Executive Meeting
- 16:30 - 17:45 - Guided campus tour of Tongji University
- 18:00 - 19:30 - Dinner
Speakers
Wednesday, 23rd April 2025
Opening Session
- Cao Jing - Deputy Party Committee Secretary, Tongji University
- Wang Antao - Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of China
- Long Wei - Deputy Director, Chinese Arctic & Antarctic Administration, State Oceanic Administration of China
- Zhang Beichen - Director of CNARC / Deputy Director of Polar Research Institute of China
- Ágúst Hjörtur Ingþórsson - Director of Icelandic Center for Research (RANNIS)
- Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir - Rector of University of Akureyri
Keynote Presentations
- Nalân Koç - Special Advisor of External Relations, Norwegian Polar Institute
- Zhong Zhenming - Professor, Associate Dean of School of Political Science & International Relations, Tongji University
- Arild Moe - Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI)
- Zhou Wen - Professor, Director of Center for Polar Ice & Snow and Climate Change Research, PRIC
- Sanna Kopra - Research Professor of Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
- Jiang Peng - Researcher, Deputy Director of Division of International Cooperation, Polar Research Institute of China
Thematic Sessions - Session 1 - The Role of Energy Transition in Response to Climate Change
- Iceland and China Geothermal Collaboration: A Successful Model for Arctic Stakeholders in Climate Action and Sustainable Development - Zhao Xin
- We Make the Future! Utopias of a Climate-Responsible World 2035 - Arctic Snapshots - Sanna Kopra, Liisa Kauppila
- China-Nordic Partnership for Green Transformation in the Arctic Context - Zhao Long
- Paradox of Arctic Energy Transition: A Solution from the Perspective of External Actors - Xue Guifang, Li Fan
- Mining or not Mining? The 2025 Deep-sea Mining Case of Norway and Its Impact on International Conservation of Marine Ecosystem in the Arctic - Liu Dan, Fu Ziluo
Thematic Sessions - Session 2 - Arctic Ocean - In A Warming Climate
- Menoscale aspects of Weather and Climate in the Arctic - Haraldur Ólafsson
- Science and Technology Governance Resilience: Culture and Social Capital in the MOSAiC Expedition - Su Ping
- The Nansen Legacy - research collaboration towards a new Arctic Ocean - Marit Reigstad
- Strengthened linkage of winter mid-latitudes temperature variability to autumn regional Arctic Sea ice anomalies in a warming period - Ding Shuoyi
- Interdisciplinary Polar Expedition: Exploring the glacial landscapes, and natural ecosystems, and preserving the night skies of the polar regions - Exodus Cl Sit
- Challengesin understanding climate warming caused by aerosols - Zang Liang
- The Bilateral INTERAAC (air-snow-ice-ocean INTERactions transforming Atlantic Arctic Climate) Collaboration between Norway and China - Guo Wenkai
- The Norwegian Polar Institute's activities and plans for monitoring and research in the central Arctic Ocean - Arild Sundfjord
- Nansen and Amundsen basins: contrasting physio-chemical properties and biota composition with implications for future management in the central Arctic Ocean - Agneta Fransson
- China on the Arctic Council: opportunities for Sino-Norwegian cooperation? - Gørild Heggelund
- Sino-Nordic Arctic Science Diplomacy in the Age of Trump - Rasmus Bertelsen
Thursday, 24th April 2025
Thematic Sessions - Session 3 - Realizing International Cooperation in the Arctic
- China in the Arctic - External Influence on Regional Governance (ArcGov): a research project in review - Iselin Stensdal
- Nordic Security in An Era of Great Change: A God's Perspective - Guo Peiqing
- China-Nordic Cooperation in the Arctic: Progress and Challenges - Liu Hongsong
- Visions for Economic Security in Flux: Development of China's Arctic Engagement - Liisa Kauppila
- Two Different Types of International Norms and the Prospect of Sino-Nordic Arctic Cooperation - Wang Chuanxing
- Tracking participation in the Arctic Council - Anna Ivanova
- When Science Meets Geopolitics: Challenges and Prospects of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation - Zheng Yingqin
- U.S. perspectives on China's legitimacy in the Arctic: Implications for Arctic Cooperation - Erdem Lamazhapov
- The European Union's Arctic policy in the context of strategic autonomy - Song Lilei
- Navigating China-Nordic research cooperation in turbulent times - Wang Yue
- The co-production model of knowledge in polar science: the China case - Marco Volpe
- How is Regional Governance Possible in Non-cooperative Situation among the Arctic Countries - Liang Lijun
- Probing into the Prospects of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation for Next Decade - Cheng Baozhi
Roundtable: International Shipping in the Arctic - the Environmental Dimension
- Practice of COCSO in polar waters - Wang Haiming
- Practise of New Shipping in the Arctic - Wang Zheng (Grace)
- The interrelationship between NSR-shipping and resource extraction - Arild Moe
- Implications of BBNJ EIA on Arctic shipping - Chen Xidi
- NSR traffic 2024 - Kjell Stokvik
- Arctic Green Shipping and Emission Reduction Challenges - Bai Jiayu
- Decarbonizing Arctic shipping - Chen Yitong
- Realizing a More Effective Regulatory Regime for Shipping - Han Jialin
- Economic potential analysis of Arctic Shipping - Luo Ying
Book Launch
- Engagement of SHOU in CNARC and Cooperation with FNI - Li Juanying
- Cooperation between Norwegian and Chinese Academia
- Creation of Borderland Russians and Its Implications - Geir Hønneland
- Translation of Borderland Russians and Its Significance - Zou Leilei
Topics
Session 1 – The role of energy transition in the respond to climate change
Climate change is driving worldwide transformations across ecosystems, from contributing to sea-level rise and shifting weather patterns to altering wildlife migrations. Recognizing the urgency of climate action, parties to the UNFCCC at COP28 agreed to accelerate the global energy transition. The Arctic plays a dual role as both an energy producer and a beneficiary of this global shift towards cleaner energy sources. Meanwhile, the demand for low-carbon energy, LNG from Asian economies, including China, South Korea, and India is increasing with the purpose of supporting their own ambitious climate targets. How can we ensure that climate concerns are at the forefront of decisions shaping the future of Arctic energy development? Mainstreaming of environmental concerns in Arctic resource development;
- What role is the Arctic likely to have in energy supplies to Asian countries?
- What will be the role of external actors in Arctic resource development？
- What can be learned from development of renewable energy in the Nordic countries?
Session 2 – Arctic Ocean – in a warming climate
The Arctic is warming four times the global average. Consequently, a dramatic reduction in the sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean has been observed in the last decades. An ocean, which has been permanently ice-covered for millions of years, is now transiting to a seasonally open blue ocean. An ocean, which therefore has not been available for scientific studies and mapping, is now much more accessible. Rapidly changing environmental conditions call for identifying and collecting core observations to understand the near and long-term development of the Arctic Ocean. Some nations have built new research icebreakers during the past decades, and others are in the process of building. How can the scientific activities in the Arctic Ocean be coordinated and information shared?
- What are the scientific results from recent cruises?
- What are the knowledge gaps and research priorities for the Arctic Ocean for the next decade?
- How are we preparing for the International Polar Year 2032-33?
Session 3 – Realizing international cooperation in the Arctic
Effective international cooperation is important for addressing transnational challenges such as climate change and environmental issues. However, these times are challenging for international cooperation globally. Even though the Arctic, like other regions, is affected by this, the story of cross-border cooperation in the Arctic is special – and encompasses not only the Arctic states but also the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Is this cooperation something that could be learned from and applied elsewhere or is it only applicable to the Arctic? How can Nordic-Chinese research cooperation contribute to an informed discussion on such issues?
- What are the prospects for China-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic and are there any approaches that could strengthen mutual understanding and trust?
- What can other regions learn from Arctic international cooperation? Could such international cooperation, for example regarding involvement of indigenous peoples and indigenous rights, be applied elsewhere?
- How may academic research support cross-border cooperation in the Arctic?
Roundtable – International shipping in the Arctic – the environmental dimension
Whereas international transit traffic has remained modest, a significant increase in destination shipping (transports into and out from the Arctic) has taken place. No major environmental accident has so far been reported, but if a major oil spill occurred it could have serious repercussions for the sea as well as coastal areas. Ballast water and emissions to air remain a problem. Thus, there is a constant need to ensure the safety of maritime operations. This includes the quality of ships operating (e.g. ice-class), as well as sailing season – considering the ice situation - and emergency procedures. The IMOs Polar Code, which went into force in 2017, was meant to establish new standards and guidelines for shipping, but how effective is the implementation of regulations, which primarily depends on port state control? New technologies for shipping are being developed, including more environmentally friendly fuel and improved ship designs. What are the most important advances in this field? importance of scientific assessments to improving knowledge and understanding of the Arctic to inform policy shaping and decision-making;
- What are the main environmental challenges in current Arctic shipping activities?
- How effective is the implementation of the Polar Code (International code for ships operating in polar waters)? What about the enforcement of the code? Do we need a new safety standard for shipping in the Arctic, especially for cruise/expedition operations?
- Are new green shipping technologies emerging that could raise the environmental performance of Arctic shipping? Can the establishment of green shipping corridors be a way forward?
- As Arctic marine tourism increases, how can we ensure it`s sustainable?
