Mapping response-able relationality with the Arctic Ice

The presentation challenged dominant narratives that frame Arctic ice solely as something to be conquered, arguing instead for a deeper ethical and affective engagement with this vital component of Earth’s climate system. Paper on reimagining our relationship with Arctic ice through the lens of more-than-human care (Puig de la Bellacasa, 2017) and response-ability (Haraway, 2016).

Arctic ice, the researchers emphasized, is not a passive backdrop but an active participant in sustaining planetary livability. Its rapid decline has become a global spectacle—fueling geopolitical tensions, policy debates, and climate activism—yet remains distant and abstract for most people.
The paper asked: How can we cultivate care-full relationality with Arctic ice, acknowledging its role in regulating ecosystems while respecting its more-than-human agency?

Drawing on posthuman storytelling practices, the authors proposed narrative and pedagogical strategies to trace human-ice entanglements and acknowledging the importance of “political emotions” (Nussbaum, 2013) that inspire responsibility and action. From Euro-Western feminist and transdisciplinary perspectives, they explored how stories of ice can foster attentiveness, solidarity, and ethical co-existence—moving toward practices of care grounded in reciprocity and justice.

The presentation concluded with a call to integrate these approaches into education, research, and policy, framing care for Arctic ice as a critical praxis for climate resilience and global sustainability. The presentation urged scholars and citizens alike to rethink what it means to live well with ice—with care.

Read more about the Critical Arctic Studies Symposium 2025.