The inaugural Arctic Circle will be held October 12-14, 2013. The mission of the Arctic Circle is to facilitate dialogue and build relationships to confront the Arctic's greatest challenges. We aim to strengthen the decision-making process by bringing together as many Arctic and international partners as possible under one large "open tent."
By facilitating circumpolar meetings of leaders across disciplines, we will identify truly sustainable development practices for the Arctic, the world's last pristine environment.
The Arctic Circle is nonprofit and nonpartisan. Organizations, forums, think tanks, corporations and public associations around the world are invited to hold meetings within the Arctic Circle platform without surrendering their institutional independence. The agenda for the first Arctic Circle gathering will include plenary sessions with international leaders on emerging topics of interest, such as:
- Sea ice melt and extreme weather;
- Security in the Arctic;
- Fisheries and ecosystem management;
- Shipping and transportation infrastructure;
- Arctic Resources;
- Tourism
Subsequent Arctic Circle gatherings will be held in a different Arctic location each year, so that participants can become familiar with the challenges, needs and opportunities presented by these unique environments.