University of Akureyri supporting organisation of major Arctic Biodiversity Summit in Greenland

The University of Akureyri is playing a key role in organizing the Arctic Biodiversity Summit, set to take place in Nuuk, Greenland in 2027.

Tom Barry, Dean of School for Humanities and Social Sciences, is working with Greenland's Ministry for Environment, Nature, Energy and Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business and Mineral Resources, Greenland Institute for Natural Resources, and Aarhus University to coordinate this significant international event.

Part of the Kingdom of Denmark's Arctic Council Chairship programme, the Arctic Biodiversity Summit will serve as a strategic platform to advance biodiversity conservation and knowledge exchange across the Arctic. The event builds upon the Arctic Council's 2021–2030 Strategic Plan and the Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2025–2035, developed by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group.

The summit will bring together scientists, policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and other stakeholders in inclusive dialogue, with the goal of strengthening biodiversity governance and enhancing Arctic cooperation.

Organizers have secured funding from the Danish Ministry of Environment, the Nordic Council of Ministers, and the Velux Foundation to plan and deliver the summit.

This collaboration highlights the University of Akureyri's growing role in international Arctic research and policy development, and its contribution to circumpolar environmental and biodiversity initiatives.

Call for content:

• Session submissions: 13th September 2026
• Talk submissions: 15th October 2026
• Poster submissions: 1st November 20