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As we all know, the Arctic is one of the most important energy sources in the world. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) the Arctic has about 13 % (90 billion barrels) of the world´s undiscovered conventional oil resources and 30 % of its undiscovered conventional natural gas resources. On the other hand, Arctic Regions are ideal source for renewable energy like hydro power, wind power and geothermal power. In coastal regions, tidal power is also available. In the most sparsely populated Arctic the main energy source is still diesel oil and in the northernmost regions of the Nordic countries the amount of renewable energies is about 90 % of energy and it is still increasing in the near future.

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The municipality of Akureyri with its 18.300 inhabitants in northern Iceland has been working strategically in green growth over the past decade. Vistorka is a municipally owned company that was established in 2015 to facilitate the transition towards a zero-carbon future in Akureyri by providing support to start-up companies in the field of clean energy and green solutions. Vistorka’s focus is on promoting the production of renewable fuels, fertilisers, and feeds from waste streams. Akureyri municipality has a low-carbon footprint because of its high share of geothermal and hydropower energy in final electricity and heat consumption.

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Today the author and producer of the popular program “Otmorozhennaya” (“Frozen”) Ekaterina Karpukhina presents a part of the Yakutian Arctic – Tiksi settlement. All video releases by Ekaterina are interesting, because they reveal a special view of traditions,  culture of the local population is intertwined with pictures of the living conditions of people from different regions of Yakutia. It is interesting to know how one of the 13 Arctic regional centers of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) will be presented in the photoreport.

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The shores of Arctic Yakutia are the “world champions” in terms of the rate of destruction.

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ALEKSANDR KORYAKIN:

“For the northern regions, alternative energy is not only a saving of diesel fuel, but also an opportunity to preserve the marvels of northern nature. During 2016 “Sakhaenergo” has saved 270.88 tons of diesel fuel, thus preventing the release of 0.776 tons of pollutants into the atmosphere.”

The interests of many countries are intertwined in the Arctic, what makes the Arctic a region of international importance. The geopolitical location, huge resource potential and strategic interests of the leading countries of the world were the catalyst for the formation of Arctic cooperation and its further development to promote the region as a territory of peace and dialogue.  Mikhail Pogodaev, Executive Director of the Northern Forum, one of the most active participants of the Arctic cooperation, told us about the regional cooperation in the field of energy in the Arctic.

VLADIMIR NIKOLAEVICH VASILIEV:
Head of the Department for External Relations of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Gavril Prokopievich Levin, Minister of Housing, Public Utilities and Energy of Sakha Republic (Yakutia): “The government of Sakha Republic (Yakutia), considering high rates of development and introduction of renewable energy sources in Yakutia, believes that further work in this area is useful indeed”

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The first Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) meeting under Finnish Chairmanship was held in Inari on September 21-22. The meeting reviewed SDWG Work Plan for 2017-2019, project proposals, and status reports on ongoing projects.

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The 4th Arctic Energy Summit took place in Helsinki on September 18-20. The Summit is an endorsed project of the Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group. This year the Summit was organized by Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Institute of the North that is a NF business partner. Within 3 days Summit discussed renewable energy, oil and gas, community impact, energy policy and regulation, financing and investments.

The report on RCC meeting held in Khanty-Mansiysk on June 29 - July 1, 2017, is now available here.

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On July 20th, 2017 in Yakutsk, the Executive Director of the Northern Forum, Mikhail Pogodaev, met with the US Consul General in Vladivostok Michael Keays who visited the city at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Russian-American Pacific Partnership.