Initiating, encouraging and facilitating cooperation on Arctic issues
Highlighted Activities
Projects, events, and initiatives, organized and co-organized, hosted and co-hosted, and involving the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network.
Speaking of the Arctic Podcast - Pilot Episode Release
The first episode of IACN's new podcast got released on September 26th. In our very first episode, the moderators Fridrik Thorsson, Johanna Franke and Romain Chuffart introduce themselves and share the paths that brought them to the Arctic, more specifically Akureyri in the North of Iceland. We will talk about why the Arctic matters to each of us personally, what sparked the idea for this podcast, and the topics we’re excited to dive into in future episodes. Along the way, we swap stories about darkness and light in the north and what it means to build a life here. It’s a warm, honest start, and an open invitation to join us on this journey.
NACEMAP - Northern and Arctic Communities Emergency Management and Preparedness
The University of Akureyri and the Association of Municipalities of Northeast Iceland (SSNE) are partners to an international project which tackles the subject of emergency management and preparedness within northern communities. It aims to identify best practices at the local, regional, national, transnational levels, using the regions of Northeast Iceland, Northern Finland, and Ireland. As part of the project, a workshop is to be held in the University of Akureyri on the 8th of October for the purpose of gathering stakeholders and actors pertinent to emergency management to tackle the subject of landslides and marine pollution disasters. If you are a contributor to civil defence in this regard, please contact us so that we may include you in the discussion.
Ensuring Networks Can Meet Societal Needs (EN-SN)
Science Foundation Ireland's (SFI) Policy Research Project, 'Ensuring Networks Can Meet Societal Needs (EN-SN)' is being conducted by the University of Galway. Through connecting the Network of Arctic Researchers in Ireland (NARI), the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN), ArcticNet, and the Scottish Arctic Network (ScAN), it aims to investigate how research networks can support the science-policy interface to meet societal needs.
GEA Phase IV - Study on Gender and Disaggregated Data in the Arctic
In May of 2025 we concluded our work on GEA's IV. phase with the release of report which detailed finding relating to the project's I. component - that being the mainstreaming of gender-based analysis in the work of the Arctic Council via an analysis on how gendered data is disaggregated across the Arctic. This was made possible by funding from Canada and Finland, along with the participation of our GEA partners in attending a workshop and in co-authoring and editing this study which it summarizes.
IACN's Gender Equality Plan 2024-2028
In a reflection to its committments to gender equality within the Arctic, the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network has outlined its 2024-2028 Gender Equality Plan. Take a look to see how we aim to guarantee gender-conscious conduct both within our network as well as in our dealings across the Arctic.
The Key to the North: Mapping Arctic Activities in the Northeast of Iceland
Through funding offered by the Association of Municipalities of Northeast Iceland’s (SSNE) action plan project “Sóknaráætlun Norðurlands eystra”, we are excited to share a our newly published report which maps the various Arctic activities in which the Northeast of Iceland is engaged in. The report is only available in Icelandic.
Implementation plan for Iceland's Arctic Policy
Implementation Plan of Iceland's Arctic Policy is now out and published by the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This plan maps out the means to implement Iceland's 2021 Arctic Policy, which itself expanded upon Iceland's first Arctic Policy in 2011. This implementation plan was the result of a consultation process organized by the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It offers facinating insight onto the ideal next steps forward for Iceland within the ever-evolving and increasingly relevant Arctic.
Members & Partners
Our members are Icelandic legal entities working on issues relating to the Arctic. Our domestic and international partners and collaborators can include institutions, governments, municipalities and associations. Are you looking for a partner for projects, in person events, webinars or something else?
Experts
A network of Arctic experts in Iceland providing contact information, field of expertise and interests. Do you seek knowledge or someone to partner with on a project? Are you a student looking fo rmaterial, expertise or an advisor for your thesis? Are you looking for a speaker on a specific topic?
The Arctic Region
The Arctic does not have a single definition which comprehensively defines the region but rather is defined through different dimensions. This section provides basic information concerning key Arctic actors, including the Arctic eight states, the Arctic Council and the six Indigenous Peoples' Associations, often referred to as the Arctic Council Permanent Participants.
Further it provides an brief overview of important international, regional and subnational organizations with a special role in Governance in the Arctic. Finally, a list of Arctic official policies and security strategies, including those of the Arctic states and permanent participants, has been compiled and is regularly updated.
Arctic Definitions
An overview of the more commonly used definitions of the Arctic region.
Key Arctic Actors
The eight Arctic States are central to Arctic Governance in close collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in the region.
Arctic Governance
The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum for cooperation and interaction among the Arctic States, but it is not the only one. What are the key elements of Arctic Governance?
Arctic Policies
A list of official policies and security strategies, including those of Arctic States, non-Arctic States, Indigenous Peoples´ Associations and International Organizations.
