Thirty years after the Arctic Council was established, has it stood the test of time?
In this special anniversary episode, we hear from the people who helped build the Arctic Council, shape its work and carry it through some of its most challenging moments. From breaking bureaucratic norms and putting the Arctic on the global agenda, to navigating a changing geopolitical landscape and efforts to retain cooperation, our guests share stories and behind-the-scenes reflections as the Arctic Council moves into a new phase.
This episode isn’t just a re-hash about the Council’s history or achievements, but a story about trust, relationships, and friends of the Arctic coming together to tackle shared challenges. As the Arctic Council turns 30 while navigating a new reality, those who know it best reflect on where it has been, what has become and why it still matters.
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"When we first started discussing it amongst the eight Arctic nations, we felt that it would be an organization that would foresee the future of what was happening in the Arctic. The relevancy of the Arctic Council has not diminished. It has changed." The Right Honorable Mary Simon, former Governor General of Canada and lead negotiator for the Arctic Council
"The Arctic Council is a model for other parts of the world to emulate. I don't think there's another example similar to it. It's important because we can't do things in isolation. The climate really has no boundaries." Chief Bill Erasmus, Arctic Athabaskan Council
"I was saying that this meeting will be significant either because it's the last one ever in the Arctic Council, or the first one in the next phase." Gunn-Britt Retter, Saami Council
"That was the pivotal moment and when I knew that yes, the Arctic Council will continue." Morten Høglund, Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"The fact that the US and Russia could work together then remains a lesson that may even be applicable today. We can find things that we want to do and can do together." David Balton, Belfer Center’s Arctic Initiative
“We've talked about geopolitics – the work is really hard, and it's never been harder. I've never been more inspired by the people that I work with. I've never been more inspired by the commitment to ensure that the Arctic is safe. We have important work to do, and it will continue well beyond and into the next 30 years.” Benjamin Strong, Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group
"Hard security is always immediately what you think of when you talk about Arctic security. But you can't have hard security if you don't have healthy people. To me, security means building up a healthy community." Taylor Jobin, Kingdom of Denmark Chairship Youth Committee
"To say that Arctic exceptionalism is dead is to miss some of the really amazing parts of the Arctic." Jennifer Spence, Harvard Arctic Initiative
Thank you to our guests, in order of appearance:
The Right Honorable Mary Simon, former Governor General of Canada and lead negotiator for the Arctic Council
Chief Bill Erasmus of Arctic Athabaskan Council
Gunn-Britt Retter of the Saami Council
David Balton of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, U.S. (2015-2017)
Benjamin Strong of the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group
Morten Høglund, former Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials for Norway (2023-2025)
Taylor Jobin of the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship Youth Committee
Jennifer Spence of the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center
The music in this episode is by Emil Kárlsen, used with permission. Sound design by Både Og Studios.
Explore the history of the Arctic Council through this interactive timeline.