By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, The Arctic Circle is a major international gathering on Arctic matters. It is organised once a year in Reykjavik. This year it will take place from 19 to 21 October. It brings together around 2,000 participants from 60 countries. Finland is well-represented in the Assembly.

Our fields of expertise in digitalisation, artificial intelligence and smart technologies are all part of Finland’s success story. Information transmitted via satellites can be harnessed in meteorological services, flood forecast systems, ice services and maritime transport, for example. Black carbon is one of the main short-lived climate forcers. These topics will be discussed on Saturday 20 October in Finland’s breakout session, which focuses on Finland and new elements in Arctic cooperation.

State Secretary and Chair of Finland’s Arctic Advisory Board Paula Lehtomäki from the Prime Minister’s Office will open Finland’s breakout session. Other representatives from Finland include Johanna Ekman, Project Manager at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Kimmo Kanto, Director at Business Finland and Jaakko Henttonen, Special Adviser at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  Ambassador Harri Mäki-Reinikka from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will moderate the discussion.

In addition, the Finnish Border Guard will organise an international session on air and maritime search and rescue as part of its chairmanship of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum.