Everything polar one click away

In contrast to the warming of the Arctic, Denmark and Greenland have taken over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council during an icy phase and need to act as icebreakers.

Culture

ILLU Science and Art Hub, a place for scientists, artists and locals

Siri Veland (geographer), Skade Henriksen (artist), Anna Lindal (artist), and Marie Stougaard Østertorn (civil society advocate) explain the concept behind the Ilulissat Art and Science Hub. We open the doors to this anchor point, which marks the end of our series in this Greenlandic town.

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Guest article

Tourism in Greenland: a fragile balance, an update after the elections

Guest Author

In an article for Polar Journal AG, Marie-Noëlle Rimaud advocates "finding a way out from the top, through intelligence". The lecturer and researcher in tourism economics and management calls for the development of a win-win strategy between foreign investors in the tourism sector and the island's inhabitants, who see the importance of this sector for the future of their economy.

Around the polar world

Russia Reflags, Renames Sanctioned ‘Shadow Fleet’ LNG Tankers Ahead of Suspected Arctic LNG 2 Startup

Russia has reflagged and renamed four ice-strengthened LNG carriers, integrating them into a 'shadow fleet' ahead of the suspected startup of the Arctic LNG 2 project. This maneuver is seen as a way to potentially circumvent sanctions and facilitate the delivery of liquefied natural gas from the Arctic region.

gcaptain.com

The 40th anniversary of the discovery of the ozone hole is coming up

On May 16th 1985, three British Antarctic Survey scientists had their findings published in the renowned scientific magazine "Nature". The content of this work would make science history and mark one of the most important discoveries ever: the ozone hole over Antarctica. Their findings raised concerns on environmental damage affecting public health on a global scale and echoes far into the 21st century.

www.bas.ac.uk

Finland plans new icebreakers for Baltic Sea

Finnish icebreaker design company Aker Arctic has been awarded the design contract for at least two new mid-sized icbreakers for the Baltic Sea, according to a press release. The new icebreakers will fill a gap between the countries strongest icebreakers and ice-strengthened tugs currently deployed in the Baltic Sea.

akerarctic.fi

New Arctic shipping routes planned between Russia and China

Russian president Putin and Chinese president Xi have agreed to develop new shipping routes through the Arctic, news outlets report. The agreement was presented during Xi's visit to Moscow during the End-of-WW2 celebrations. According to Russian officials, both countries currently discuss the involvement of China in LNG projects in Russia as well as new ways of transporting the LNG to the Chinese market. Since 2020, Sino-Russian trade has doubled, making China Russia's biggest export market for energy.

gcaptain.com

Nunavut economic growth rate ranks highest in Canada in 2024

The economic growth rate in Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic ranks highest in the country according to Statistics Canada. In 2024, Nunavut economy grew a stunning 7.5%, compared to 1.6% for the entire country. This increase marks almost a doubling of the 2023 growth rate (3.8%) for Nunavut. The reasons behind this positive result are likely increased mining investments and rising prices for gold and iron over the course of the year, according to analysts.

nunatsiaq.com

Politics

The Polar Retrospective – A Chilean plan for Antarctica, US agencies spying in Greenland, and new Arctic coastlines

The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at Chile's presidential commitment to the Antarctic, reports about US intelligence gathering in Greenland, and the emergence of new Arctic coastlines as glaciers retreat.

Meeting Heidi Møller in Ilulissat - break free for independence

At the start of her political career last April, this business consultant won the highest number of votes in the Avannaata regional elections. Her socio-liberal vision of empowering Greenlandic society is based on an in-depth treatment of social affairs, with a view to promoting entrepreneurship and responsibility.

Australia Re-elects Labor - What it Means for the Antarctic Program

The re-election of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government signals a period of stability and policy continuity for the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP).

Podcast Radio Arctic – Female Leadership and Entrepreneurship across the Arctic

In conversation with prominent Arctic female figures, Sara Olsvig, Tahnee Prior, Sarah Cox, and Lydie Lescarmontier, Radio Arctic uncovers the critical intersections of gender, governance, and sustainability in the polar regions.

Science

Climate change reduces the ability of Arctic fjords to store carbon

Julia Hager

According to a new study, Arctic fjords could store carbon less effectively in the future as global warming progresses, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the climate.

Tiny dips in sea level reveal flow of climate-regulating underwater waterfalls

Administrator

Satellite data reveals tiny sea level dips that mark underwater waterfalls – cold, dense water plunging off Antarctica’s continental shelf. These flows help regulate Earth’s climate but are weakening as the planet warms.

The Polar Retrospective – Declining sea ice helps Common Eiders, Farewell to AWI Directrice

The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at the breeding tactics of Common eiders on Svalbard, a goodbye video to the directrice of the AWI.

Polar Bear Tracker Update: Spring 2025

Administrator

In their recent update, Polar Bears International offers the latest information on the polar bears in the Hudson Bay area. Thanks to the organization’s ‘Polar Bear Tracker’, it is possible to follow some individuals equipped with a tracker and know more about their movements, but also about the research projects.

Society

Pele Blytmann and Joel Hansen - fishermen in Disko Bay, Greenland

In the port of Ilulissat, sailors leave and land between the ice every day. We met two of them. They tell us what they like about their profession and the difficulties they face.

Of polar bears and men: Churchill

Mirjana Binggeli

In a new documentary, CBS highlights the challenges facing Churchill. The documentary focuses in particular on the inhabitants of this town famous for its polar bears.

Diary of a journey to Greenland: from where the boats go and where the city comes

Among the scenes polarjournal.net witnessed this week were the sailors setting sail from the small fishing port of Ilulissat, the parade of locals to the Brugseni supermarket, Easter days and the blue sky.

Meet Sofie Schultz Christiansen - Her story in languages

A translator and interpreter since she was a child, Sofie Schultz Christiansen told us about her story, her passion for languages, her travels and her life in Ilulissat.

Picture of the month

As soon as it is born, an elephant seal pup utters little cries and calls out to its mother, who breaks the umbilical cord by turning towards it. Skuas and giant petrels are waiting to feast at least on the placenta. These birds may have been the vectors of avian flu in Kerguelen for several months.

An elephant seal pup between a skua and giant petrels on the Kerguelen.

Economy

Meet Karl Sandgreen, CEO of the Icefjord center, in Ilulissat

Ice, fishing, education, municipal elections, Greenlandic independence and the tourist economy are all subjects that cross the mind of the director of the Icefjord Center, a resident of Greenland's third-largest city.

Nunavut, a bright spot in the Arctic's socio-economic doldrums

The economic dynamism of Canada's north did not go unnoticed by Business Index North researchers when they looked at economic development in the Arctic.

Krill - "This year, unfortunately, we did not reach an agreement"

At the 43rd meeting of the CCAMLR Commission, the divergence of vision between environmental conservation and sustainable fishing came face to face to the extent that no agreement was reached on the future of krill fishing. On the one hand, a project for a marine protected area around the Antarctic Peninsula, and on the other, a modernisation and increase in the allocation of fishing quotas. To find out more about this unprecedented event, we spoke to Dr. Javier Arata, executive officer of ARK, the association of companies for responsible krill fishing.

"These companies are destroying the environment and harming the local people in Chukotka"

The Beringovsky mine has been operated since 2016 by an Australian company, which withdrew from the project this summer. The company avoided Western sanctions thanks to a complex set-up of Cyprian and Russian companies, but none of this would have been revealed had the mine not been the scene of an environmental and human disaster. Ilya Shumannov, CEO of Arctida, conducted an extensive investigation. He told us all about it.

Tourism

"Is there a lack of awareness of the risks associated with outdoor activity?"

The absence of an insurance offer adapted to polar operators linked to France is felt by professionals in the sector who responded to a survey by the Chaire Enjeux Polaires.

Adult-Themed Cruise to Antarctica: Theme Park Tourism or Isolated Incident?

An unusual event in Antarctic tourism unfolded in January 2025, prompting discussions about the evolving nature of travel to this unique region.

Managing the route, from Australia to Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail

Mirjana Binggeli

Hiking in the magnificent Greenlandic backcountry as your job? For many, this may seem like the ultimate fantasy, but for Lisa Germany it is a professional reality. Interview.

Marie-Noëlle Rimaud, islander, polar explorer and pioneer