News & Press Releases
28 March 2025
The International Forum Arctic Territory of Dialogue was held in Murmansk, Russia, on March 26 and 27 with the theme - To live in the North!
27 March 2025
Morten Høglund, Norway’s Arctic Ambassador and Chair of the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials, is the recipient of the prestigious High North Hero Award 2025.
26 March 2025
The Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK) has released its latest report, "Bering Strait and Transits," providing an in-depth analysis of maritime traffic in the Bering Strait during 2024. As Arctic sea routes continue to draw global interest due to climate change and shifting economic opportunities, this report offers valuable insights into vessel movements, trends, and the impact of environmental conditions on shipping in the region.
21 March 2025
The Arctic Encounter Symposium 2025, scheduled to be held in Anchorage, Alaska, on April 2-4 has been rescheduled for July 30th - August 1st.
19 March 2025
The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP) to raise global awareness about the critical role glaciers play in our climate system and water resources. As part of this initiative, March 21 has been proclaimed as the annual World Day for Glaciers, with the inaugural observance occurring this year.
14 March 2025
Tucked away in the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, Wrangel Island is a place of paradoxes—both a harsh, isolated landscape and a cradle of life. This remote Russian island, located between the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most remarkable Arctic nature reserves. Despite its extreme environment, Wrangel Island has played a crucial role in the history of Arctic exploration, the survival of prehistoric species, and modern conservation efforts. The small neighboring island, Herald Island, is also a UNESCO World Heritage site (see map).
14 March 2025
Yakutsk will host the IV Reindeer Herders Congress of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) from March 18-20, 2025, bringing together reindeer herders, Indigenous leaders, and experts to discuss the future of reindeer husbandry.
12 March 2025
In a surprising turn of events, Greenland's parliamentary elections on March 11, 2025, resulted in a significant political shift.
Parties that favour independence and have voiced their willingness to work closer with the US are clear winners and now have the potential to form a majority government in the Greenlandic parliament. Significant political changes, not least related to the big question of independence, resource utilization, and cooperation alliances, could thus be materializing in the nearest future.
11 March 2025
2025 STEM Discovery Campaign, a joint international initiatives for educators across Europe and beyond to celebrate careers and studies in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
10 March 2025
Greenland, the world's largest island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, is set to hold parliamentary elections on March 11, 2025. This election comes at a pivotal moment, with heightened discussions on independence, external geopolitical interests, and internal legislative reforms shaping the political landscape.
7 March 2025
The proposed Alaska LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) project, a monumental energy infrastructure initiative, is drawing increased global attention as South Korea expresses interest in joining the United States and Japan in this high-stakes endeavor. The project aims to tap into the vast natural gas resources in Alaska’s North Slope, creating an 800-mile pipeline that will transport gas to an LNG export terminal, with the primary goal of boosting energy exports to Asia. With the project estimated at a hefty $44 billion, its completion promises to reshape trade relations, diversify energy sources, and strengthen economic ties between the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.
5 March 2025
Arctic sea ice extent in February 2025 remained at record-low levels, continuing a trend of declining winter ice coverage. According to data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), the average sea ice extent for the month was 13.75 million square kilometers (5.31 million square miles)—the lowest February extent recorded in the 46-year satellite record. This marks a decrease of 220,000 square kilometers (85,000 square miles) compared to the previous record low set in 2018.
The map clearly shows the changes in Sea Ice coverage in February 2025 compared to February 2024!
24 February 2025
The Polar Regions host one of the harshest and most unique ecosystems on Earth, harboring a diverse array of micro- and macro-organisms. These inhabitants showcase remarkable taxonomic and genetic originality, presenting unparalleled opportunities for bioprospecting, alongside demonstrating extraordinary adaptation mechanisms for survival. Furthermore, polar organisms play crucial roles in facilitating organic matter decomposition, carbon fixation and sequestration, and biogeochemical cycling. Moreover, these organisms serve as pivotal indicators of global climate shifts. Therefore, exploring the polar organisms and the ecosystem holds profound and significant implications for gaining deeper insights into scientific frontiers such as global biodiversity, elementary cycling, climate change, resource utilization, and the awe of life in extreme environments.
18 February 2025
The Arctic sea-ice extent reaches its annual minimum in September, serving as a crucial indicator of climate change. The September Arctic sea-ice is now shrinking at a rate of 12.2% per decade compared to its average extent during the period from 1981 to 2010 (NASA).
18 February 2025
The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was one of the deadliest outbreaks in human history, infecting an estimated one-third of the global population and causing the deaths of at least 50 million people. Unlike typical influenza strains, which predominantly affect the very young and the elderly, the 1918 virus disproportionately struck healthy young adults. The virus caused severe pneumonia-like symptoms, often leading to rapid respiratory failure. Scientists believe this high mortality rate was due to an overreaction of the immune system, known as a cytokine storm, which caused excessive inflammation and damage to the lungs. The pandemic spread rapidly due to the movement of soldiers during World War I, reaching even the most remote corners of the world—including the Arctic.
Arctic Portal.org - 2024 © All rights reserved.
When quoting, reusing or copying any material on the arcticportal.org or any of its sub-sites including but not limiting to: information, news, articles, data, maps or images, in part or in full, a citation stating the origin and a hyperlink to www.arcticportal.org is required.