Give

Activities in 2025

Upcoming activities in 2025

  • Invitation to submit abstracts for session at Arctic Congress (May 2026), Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

    Session (48): "Sustainable Solid Waste Management in the Arctic: Governance, Innovation, and Local Solutions "
    Section: 1.4. Circular economies and community-led initiatives
    Conveners: Nadezhda Filimonova and Kamrul Hossain, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

  • The language of the session is English. Oral presentations only.

  • Description: This session expands on the project “Strengthening the Transfer of Good Practices in the Arctic Waste Management Cooperation,” funded by the Nordic Arctic Program, to enhance regional solid waste management (SWM) collaboration, develop local sustainable circular solutions, and foster innovation, skills, and networking. SWM continues to pose significant societal, environmental, and governance challenges in Arctic cities. Implementing advanced SWM solutions in these cities depends on factors such as geographic location, climatic conditions, and small population sizes. Cold temperatures and permafrost impede traditional waste treatment methods, while the harsh climate also presents technological difficulties for waste processing, such as incineration and recycling. Local authorities and waste management companies face the need to develop innovative strategies specifically adapted to their unique environments. This session brings together practitioners and scholars from different fields of science to share insights and knowledge on the enablers and barriers to the advancement of SWM in Arctic cities, as well as tools to further promote sustainable SWM as a key component of a circular economy and green transition. In addition, the panel brings an understanding of the resources (e.g., financial) and knowledge that local authorities and waste companies require to advance the SWM, as well as who provides these resources. Examining pathways to SWM advancement sheds light on how governance practices, innovations, and knowledge transfer occur between cities in remote areas with severe climate conditions. Ultimately, increasing awareness of advancing SWM supports discussions on future Arctic governance and development strategies that aim to foster thriving Arctic societies.

  • Read the abstract guidelines here: Call for abstract proposal

  • Abstract submission deadline: 15 December 2025, 16:00 CET

Activities in 2025 

  • Seminar: "Planning for change: Exploring resilience in the Yukon through local and regional approaches to climate change adaptation", online", January 20, 2025
    • Speaker: Alison Perrin, Yukon University (Canada)
    • Hosted by the UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience Speaker Series, and the Northern Students’ Association Northern Spotlights Series, University of Alberta (Canada).
    • Supported by the School of Urban and Regional Planning University of Alberta (Canada).
  • Seminar: "Global Challenges, Local Struggles: Dissecting Arctic climate change and Indigenous Peoples adaptation in Nunatsiavut", online, February 10, 2025
    • Speaker: Ishfaq Hussain Malik, University of Leeds (UK)
    • Hosted by the UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience Speaker Series, and the Northern Students’ Association Northern Spotlights Series, University of Alberta (Canada).
    • Supported by the School of Urban and Regional Planning University of Alberta (Canada).
  • Seminar: "Exploring Climate Adaptation in Northern Communities", online (Zoom) on April 1, 2025
    • Panelists explore local-scale climate adaptation in Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the United States, across three domains: economy, infrastructure/ utility, and governance. In partnership with PLOS-Climate (journal). 

    • Panelists:

      • Rikke Becker Jacobsen, Associate Professor, Aalborg University, Denmark
      • John Duffy, Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage, United States
      • Nadezhda Filimonova, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Lapland, Finland

    • Chairs/ Moderators:

      • Jeff Birchall, Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Canada
      • Desiree Rose, PhD Student, University of Alberta, Canada

    • Hosts:

      • UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience
      • PLOS-Climate

  • Panel Session: “Climate adaptation through urban planning: Enabling and constraining factors”

    • Venue: Adaptions Futures Conference
    • When/where: Oct 12-16, 2025/ Christchurch, New Zealand
    • Chair/ Moderator: Jeff Birchall, Lead, UArctic TN on Local-scale Planning for Climate Resilience
    • Panelists:
      • Desiree Rose, PhD Candidate, University of Alberta, Canada

        Exploring health-focused climate adaptation planning in Western Canadian cities

      • Nicole Bonnett, PhD Candidate, University of Alberta, Canada
        Local planning for climate induced relocation: Insights from the Canadian Arctic
      • Nina Rogers, Lecturer, University of Tasmania, Australia
        Exploring leadership for climate-responsive municipal governance
  • Conference Presentation: “Progress on climate change adaptation in practice: Insights from local and territorial government interactions”
    • Venue: Adaptions Futures Conference
    • When/where: Oct 12-16, 2025/ Christchurch, New Zealand
        • Presenters:
          Desiree Rose, PhD Candidate, University of Alberta, Canada 
          Nicole Bonnett, PhD Candidate, University of Alberta, Canada 
          Jeff Birchall, Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Canada
    • See the AF2025 Presentation

Publications 2025

  • Sandberg, L., Bonnett, N., Birchall, SJ. (2025). Adapting to environmental hazards in Norway: Confusion over legal responsibility results in stalled action and greater risk of disaster. Intl. J. of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2025.105807 
  • Rose, D., Birchall, SJ. (2025). Investigating the extent and quality of health-focused climate adaptation planning: Insights from Western Canadian communities. Environmental Science & Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104192 
  • Bonnett, N., Birchall, SJ. (2025). Local planning for climate induced relocation: A systematic review. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.105094
  • Birchall, SJ., Bonnett, N., Rose, D., Gilchrist, E. (2025). Factors contributing to climate adaptation lag in practice: Insights from local and territorial government interactions. Environmental Science & Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104097. Read news here.
  • Kehler, S., Birchall, SJ. (2025). Why history matters to planning: Climate change, colonialism & maladaptation. Environmental Science & Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104076. Read news here.
  • Baran, N., Birchall, SJ. (2025). The influence of ecosystem service values on green infrastructure and urban development: Insights from 5 Canadian municipalities. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2025.2528643.

  • Rose, D., Birchall, SJ., Filimonova, N., Jacobsen, RB., Duffy, J. (2025). Climate adaptation in northern communities: The value of framing, flexibility, and knowledge. PLOS Climate 4(11): e0000759. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000759

Back to the TN profile page