Sustainability can’t be left to politicians and scientists — business needs to play a role

The annual Arctic Frontiers conference is set to take place next week in Tromsø, Norway, at a time when the region is attracting an increasing amount of international attention. To many, the Arctic is associated with remote, ice-covered areas, endangered species and reclining sea ice – an early harbinger of climate change. However, the people who live here are part of a community with a modern infrastructure, schools, jobs and business opportunities. If they are to develop further, these aspects of our region will need more attention, investment and development.

The Norwegian government’s Arctic policies are defined by our geographical realities: Russia is our neighbor and most of our oceans are in the high north. That people live and work in the Norwegian Arctic is a matter of national security: we need thriving societies in the high north. These realities are reflected in the priorities of Norway’s chairing of the Arctic Council: the oceans; climate and environment; sustainable economic development; and people in the north. People in the Arctic and business-development are also integral to the work of the Arctic Economic Council, as well as for the Arctic Mayors Forum.

For understandable reasons, politicians and scientist often dominate discussions on the future of the Arctic. However, it is essential that these two groups also include business and industry in the conversation. Sustainable business development is critical if we are to attract young people to the northern communities. And innovations in technology and business are key drivers in the green solutions needed for tomorrow’s Arctic. Our industries – including aquaculture, minerals, tourism or energy production – can play a pivotal role.

We need the business perspective, which leads to an important question, How can we strengthen Arctic businesses and the industries they build on?

Investments, recruitment, competence, education and a flexible regulatory environment are often identified as essential criteria for industrial development. As a university city and home to research institutions such as the Norwegian Polar Institute and other research institutes, we are perfectly placed to offer cutting-edge science in a number of areas. We possess a huge potential to commercialize our scientific findings. Our biotech industry is an example of this, providing vaccine and lifesaving medicine from the genetic materials in the oceans. Another example is the space-earth observation science and industry working hand in hand to obtain and valuable knowledge on, for example, the impacts of climate change on our environment. Also, a number of our research institutes play an important role in providing scientific advice to the government for the management of fisheries, aquaculture and the marine environment.

Attractivity is another key element to life in the high north. Tromsø is Norway’s youngest municipality, in the sense that the average age of the population is the lowest in the country’s 300-plus municipalities. Our city will be the European Youth Capital in 2026. Another city in the Norwegian north, Bodø, is the European capital of culture 2024. We would, therefore, like the world to know that even though we are concerned about climate change as much as anyone else, we don’t live in a museum. Rather, we build museums to enjoy modern art.

Just like athletes need endless hours of high-quality practice, nutrition and restitution to perform well, our businesses and companies must be able to offer a good quality of life to their employees. We observe that young specialists are attracted to contributing to new green technological solutions in various industries and in the public sector. Our businesses invest a lot of money in adapting to the new, evolving regulatory environment addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation to qualify as environmentally sustainable. At the same time, business models need to achieve a long-term return on investments.

In the Arctic, we possess knowhow on how to live and perform under harsh conditions, including frigid winters, cool summers, and wind and rain. This makes Northern Norway and other Arctic communities perfect locations to test new technologies and our relationship to them.

Sustainability is often perceived as a matter of taking care of the natural resources and the environment in a responsible manner. In the Norwegian Arctic, it also means economic viability, social responsibility and sustainability. Industry and business should therefore be actively involved when our politicians and scientists discuss tomorrow’s Arctic.

Business growth is a cornerstone for regional development in northern society. Decision-makers and commentators must remember that our industries are not the problem – they are part of the solution when it comes to shaping a sustainable future.