Conference report 2011

Pathways to Sustainable Northern Communities
Regional Empowerment for Change
Jokkmokk, Norrbotten, Sweden, 31 January - 3 February 2011
Conference report 2011
Main Issues 2011:
Jokkmokk Winter Conference 2011 focused strongly on developing and discussing solutions for a
sustainable future in arctic and subarctic regions, especially on:
•
How to achieve a sustainable “Lifestyle” in arctic and subarctic regions?
•
Local food production: traditional Sámi knowledge and Slow Food
•
Eco tourism: ideal way for regional sustainable development?
•
Decentralised local energy production based on renewable energy sources to achieve
regional energy autonomy
•
Sustainable development and democracy
Facts about JWC 2011:
•
230 participants from 23 countries in main conference
•
Nearly 250 participants participated in parallel lectures and side events (75 students from
LTU Luleå, meeting of Norrbottens environmental and health strategists, about 160
participants from Jokkmokk).
•
30 partner organisations and institutions.
•
VIP Participants: The Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, The Swedish Minister for Regional
Development, The Governor of Norrbotten County, the ambassadors of Russia and
Canada, MPs, Chairman and Vice Chairwomen of Swedish Eco-Municipalities, Ken
Melamed, Mayor of Whistler Mountain, Canada, 10 university professors and many more.
•
More than 50 web sites reported
about the conference: Royal Court
/ Royal Family, North Sweden,
University of the Arctic, Northern
Research Forum, APECS, Nature
Conservation Foundation, Sami
Parliament, Indigenous Portal,
Field Biologists, Norrbotten County
Council, Arctic Portal, Polar
Research Secretariat, Barents
Youth, Enact, the Swedish
Government, the EU's agenda, in
addition more than 20 blogs.
•
Close cooperation with local
companies, such as catering from
“Viddarnas hus” (traditional Sami delicatessen), gifts for speakers from Skabram cheese
and Jokkmokksbär, Coffee breaks from FairTrade Laponia.
•
Knowledge transfer to local people and companies via e.g. Pär Holmgren's lecture and
seminars focusing on sustainable energy and sustainable development.
Conference report:
The Winter Conference 2011 was held in Jokkmokk at the Arctic Circle. During four hard, but very
exciting days in Jokkmokk participants of the conference learned about climate change, energy and
sustainable development strategies for the north. Moreover, they saw real examples of how to live
more sustainable and got proofs that it is not difficult to reach, even more – economically profitable
to use.
The illustration was given by Ken Melamed – mayor of Whistler city in Canada, where Olympic
Games 2010 took place, inspiring everybody on the conference. Young participants were ready to
jump into action and make their own changes for sustainability. It is important to stress the fact
that sustainability doesn’t include only environmental problems. It also has social, economic and
political aspects.
Jokkmokk Winter Conference did a lot because it gathered decision-makers, such as ambassadors
of Russia, Igor Neverov and Canada, Alexandra Volkoff, Depute Economic Counselor US Embassy
Anna Stinchcomb and many others. It was very important that the Chairman of Sami Parliament
Ingrid Inga took part in the conference. To take heed of Sami knowledge on sustainability can
mean a lot for the Arctic. During the conference there were many speeches given by scientists in
different subjects that all together build up Sustainable Development of the region. And the best
part was Youngsters – people who will turn everything into reality, the future of the planet. It could
be argued that one of the conference goals to establish relationships with senior experts and
politicians was achieved.
Jokkmokk Winter Conference raised many important questions, such as why Copenhagen Summit
2009 did not make a breakthrough to find a global solution to global warming. And the answer was
“we have elected politicians that voted down the Summit”. The solution is to approach the election
questions with much more attention-chose policy makers that have more sustainable plans. We all
depend on the place where we live. The presentation, given by famous meteorologist in Sweden
and climate expert Per Holmgren on what is happening with the climate today and what are the
scenarios for the future shows that is time to switch our efforts to sustainable development. The
longer we continue to live the way we do the worse will the consequences be. Senior Research
Fellow of CICERO Ilan Kelman made an expressive presentation about Local Perspectives,
indigenous and local values compared to external values. He also raised essential questions to the
audience and asked them personally to tell him what each of us can start doing right now for a
sustainable future - probably, together we are doing similar things and can cooperate.
Another part of sustainability that was
presented to the conference participants
was local food and new way of tourism.
The last topic was presented by Dan
Jonasson from Visit Sami/SSR who talked
about the kind of tourism that benefits
both locals and their livelihoods, first of
all, and is unique for tourists. Dan
presented an existing offer that includes
visiting a Sami village and living the local
life, hunting and cooking. This kind of
tourism does not need any special
facilities for tourists and excludes
withdrawing territory from indigenous
people, for reindeer breeding for example.
This is Eco tourism – the ideal way for
sustainable development.
During the conference, a lot of different methods were applied. There were plenary presentations,
workshops, open space, poster presentations and round table discussions. And there were coffee
breaks where you could meet people and easily get into contact for discussions. As a participation
initiative, a photo for the 350.org campaign was taken with the slogan “leave the fossils in the
ground!”
It was easy to understand what sustainability for the Arctic region is by getting deep into the
culture. All food during the Winter Conference 2011 was traditional Sami, carefully cooked by a
family- owned restaurant in Jokkmokk. Everybody understood the fact that in the North there is no
other way to survive then eating reindeer meat. Hunting and using reindeer for cooking and
clothing is part of an old tradition that has to be kept. This is Sustainable for Sami people. They
need their land to belong to them and it should not be used to gain personal profit.
Coming close to the conclusion it is important to mention that conferences like Jokkmokk Winter
Conference are the key for the future. Only there people can get together who are doing research
and they can provide actual data, decision-makers, who can launch the projects and young and
active people, who are ready to act for those projects to continue!
Media:
Kuriren: Kronprinsessan i centrum
NSD: Kronprinsessa på vift i Jokkmokk
TV4: Victoria invigde miljökonferens i Jokkmokk
Royal Court: Kronprinsessan besöker Jokkmokk Winter Conference och Jokkmokks marknad
SR Oddaset: Internationell konferens om klimat
SR Oddaset: Klimatförändringar att ta på allvar
SR International: Winterkonferenz in Jokkmokk
Aftonbladet: Kronprinsessan fryser i Jokkmokk
SR International: Arctic town rallies youth against CC
NSD: Dags för klarspråk
Kuriren: Tips från meteorologen
NSD: Vintermöte om hållbar utveckling
Results evaluation questionnaire:
1) Please rate the following aspects of the conference organization. If any of these don't apply to
you, please leave the box empty.
Very good
Good
Satisfactory
Invitation
management and
registration process
27
8
Conference
materials provided
27
4
Assistance on-site
28
5
Conference facilities
24
10
1
Accommodation
19
15
1
Meals
26
7
Not satisfactory
2
2) The contents of conference sessions was appropriate and informative.
O Strongly agree 6
O Agree 26
O Disagree 1
O Strongly Disagree
3) Did you feel the length of conference sessions was
OToo long? 2
OJust about right? 28
OToo short? 3
4) Did the conference program offer the right
balance between information gathering and
networking possibilities?
O Yes 29
O No 4
Bad
5) What did you like most about the conference?
• Very organised and informative with spectacular presentations
• Variety of speeches, inspiring
• Possibility to meet different people from countries all over Europe and North America (often
mentioned)
• Discussions were very productive and useful
• Accomodation and means were very good
• Atmosphere of the conference was perfect
• Many high-ranking people
• Access to the museum, cultural activities
• Big enough for a big variety of people, small
enoguh to come into contact with people
• Meeting of environmental organisation and
energy corporations
• Fantastic meals!
• Open Space and round table sessions were
good
• Respect for the role taken by Saaminuorra
6) What did you like least about the conference?
• No concrete (technical) tools / technologies presented to predict or solve environmental
problems
• Lengths of speeches and partly repeating input (examples of repeating presentations:
changing economies of climate change, climate career)
• Lack of intergenerational discussions and exchange
• Workshop sessions too short
7) In what ways could this conference be
improved?
• Bigger venue for a growing audience
• More time for discussion
• More days and / or workshops spread out or
circular so that everybody could attend
everything
• More brandnew research results presented
8) Please give us any other feedback you consider
important for us to take into account when
planning a follow-up event in the future.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be more practical
More involvement of market actors
More technicians and more practical knowledge (permaculture!) More posters
Open space could be for one day (two different rounds – first free discussions/brainstorming
and then planning of concrete actions)
Short presentations of participating organizations in the beginning would have been good
Definition of central concepts (like sustainability and democracy) should be in the beginning
of the conference
The result of the conference could be a common vision/resolution from the conference
participants (would require time and a creative/democratic process)
NGO representatives and youth should be among the speakers!
Suggestion: direct feedback from the audience to the speakers
Partners:
Jokkmokk Winter Conference is initiated and organized by the Municipality of Jokkmokk in
cooperation with University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, the
University of Tromsø, the Northern Research Forum, Luleå University of Technology, the Sámi
Parliament, Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten, Norrbottens Läns Landsting, Vaartoe Centre for Sami
Research at Umeå University, Murmansk University, Abisko Scientific Research Station, Nenet
Norrbottens Energy Agency, Svenska Samernas Riksförbund, Association of Swedish Eco
Municipalities, Sáminuorra, Föreningen Nordens ungdom, Ajtte museum Sámi centre, Bellona
Foundation, Barents Youth Cooperation Office and the Sámi Education Centre in Jokkmokk.
Report:
Silva Herrmann, Wolfgang Mehl, Liudmila Taymanova