The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. Lead by German research institutions, international researchers from 20 countries are now engaged in the largest Arctic exploration of all times: the MOSAiC Expedition. Research approaches, findings and the impact of the Federal Arctic Guidelines were presented and discussed in a packed high-level evening event at the Bremen State House in Berlin. Dr. Camilla Bausch of Ecologic Institute moderated the event.

The Arctic Summer College (ASC) is proud to have recently completed its fifth successful year. This year, the Arctic Summer College had the exciting opportunity of hosting a breakout session at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 16 October 2015 in Reykjavík. Ecologic Institute's Arne Riedel, Max Grünig and Katherine Weingartner took part in the conference as part of the German delegation.

On 11 September 2014, nineteen top Arctic institutes in Europe proposed the establishment of an EU Arctic Information Centre as a network undertaking in the final seminar of the project "EU in the Arctic, The Arctic in the EU" in Brussels, Belgium. Arne Riedel presented Ecologic Institute's work on a Gap Analysis Report within that project, providing insights into Arctic stakeholders' needs to fill information and communication gaps.

On 5 November 2013, Ecologic Institute and the Embassy of Canada, Berlin, hosted a presentation by Jeannette Menzies, head of the Canadian International Centre for the Arctic Region (CICAR), on the topic of "Canada's Arctic Council Chairmanship". Jeannette Menzies elaborated on Canadian priorities and key initiatives for the next two years in this important regional forum. Arne Riedel, Researcher at Ecologic Institute, moderated the ensuing discussion with an expert audience – including fellows of the Arctic Summer College, via live video stream – covering a number of areas. In addition to questions regarding the Arctic Council, the included other issues, such as support for and exchange in science and research, as well as the inclusion of the private sector in the economic development of the region.

From 30 to 31 October 2013, a workshop entitled "Shaping Arctic Change through Conscious Choices" took place at the Abisko Scientific Research Station in Northern Sweden, ca. 200km north of the Polar Circle. Together with Shiloh Fetzek (International Institute for Strategic Studies - IISS, London) Golo Bartsch, Associate of the Ecologic Institute and PhD candidate at Bielefeld University, chaired one of the workshop's panels dealing with security issues. The workshop's results were drafted in a joint paper, which is due to publication in the coming weeks.

Dr. Ralph Bodle and his colleagues presented a report by Ecologic Institute on possible courses of action for German environmental policy with an emphasis on the Arctic in the context of the German government's Arctic Dialogue. The report offered a number of different possibilities of how Germany could work towards improving nature conservation in the Arctic.

Arne Riedel, Researcher at Ecologic Institute, presented the institutional framework for the Arctic and its changes as well as the possible influence of Arctic Council observers. Taking the expansion of regional interests into account, the presentation also examined the role of Arctic Council observer states in the possible concept of an "Arctic Community." He outlined the possibilities for observer states to influence the policies of Arctic states within and outside of the Arctic Council and concluded such observer states have been (and will likely remain) demanding actors in Arctic governance. The presentation slides are available for download.

Elizabeth Tedsen, Researcher, attended the Visionary Arctic 2012 conference in Kirkenes (Norway), where she presented on the environmental and social risks and benefits attributed to Arctic offshore hydrocarbon development. The conference sought to explore intersecting themes of sustainability and territorial challenges and explore future scenarios in the High North.

Elizabeth Tedsen, Transatlantic Fellow, attended the International Arctic Legal Forum: "Protection and Sustainable Development of the Arctic: Legal Aspects" in Salekhard (Russia) and presented Ecologic Institute's EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment projects. The Forum brought together Russian and international policymakers, attorneys, researchers, and diplomats to discuss changes in the Arctic and ideas for sustainable development in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District and beyond.

Hannah Strauss, visiting scholar at Ecologic Institute, together with other experts on the Arctic and H.E. Danish Ambassador Per Poulsen-Hansen, discussed Europe's impact on and interest in a "New North". The panel discussion was preceded by a presentation of Matthias Hannemann’s recent book, "Der Neue Norden. Die Arktis und der Traum vom Aufbruch", and focused on various aspects related to the political and economic development of the Arctic region.

Sandra Cavalieri, Fellow and Arctic Programme Coordinator at Ecologic Institute, spoke to decision-makers, scientists and industry experts on the environmental impacts of Arctic Shipping at the Symposium on Arctic shipping held at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin on 22 February. The presentation is available for download.

Emily McGlynn, Transatlantic Fellow at Ecologic Institute, presented the EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment project to Arctic indigenous stakeholders at a side event organized by the European Commission, DG MARE during the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Norway on 25 January 2011. The EU Arctic Footprint report was discussed alongside other EU Arctic policy developments.

Emily McGlynn, Transatlantic Fellow at Ecologic Institute, spoke to decision-makers, policy analysts, scientists and students at the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway (28 January 2011) about the EU's impact on the Arctic environment. Arctic stakeholders were very interested to hear the results of the EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment Project, as coordinated by Ecologic Institute.

Sandra Cavalieri, Fellow and Arctic Programme Coordinator at Ecologic Institute, presented the results of the EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment project at a conference hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA) on 8 December 2010 in Paris, France. The results show Europe’s Arctic environmental footprint from a broad range of sources, and added to the discussion on how ESA can improve its satellites and remote sensing data to contribute to the EU’s Arctic policy development. The presentation is available for download.

Climate change brings significant changes to the Arctic, resulting in a new geopolitical dynamics and challenges in the relations between Arctic and non-Arctic nations. On 23 November 2010, the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation convened an expert meeting in Berlin to discuss the strategic, military and political challenges, the role of the EU, and implications for resource, energy and climate policy. R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute was invited as keynote speaker on EU Arctic Policy in the context of regional environmental governance.