Youth Together for Arctic Futures is a project that aims to connect Arctic youth to their European peers. By fostering collaboration and mutual learning between Arctic and European youth, the project aims to provide these youth with the necessary knowledge, skills, and opportunities to advocate for policy promoting a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic future.
A key part of the project are activities integrated with the EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and Arctic Youth Dialogue, which took place 26-27 June 2025 in Kittilä, Finland. This year’s Arctic Youth Dialogue (AYD) program was six days (22-27 June 2025) and had the overarching theme: “Youth Needs-Based Suggested Actions for a Just and Sustainable Transition”.
36 youth came together to co-create policy recommendations across four Arctic topics under this overarching theme. The event kicked off with a day of cultural activities connected to Sápmi. In the following days, participants dove into group work, with each person contributing their own insights, lived experience and expertise. Policy recommendations addressing the following four questions were developed and sharpened with input from policymakers:
- How can sustainable industries develop in harmony with the Arctic environment and communities?
- How can we create a more interconnected Arctic through sustainable and accessible transportation?
- What do youth need to drive sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship in the Arctic?
- What does sufficiency mean to youth, and how can we work towards finding balance in consumption to address impacts of overconsumption?
These policy recommendations were highlighted through a number of sessions during the days of the EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and EU-Arctic Youth Dialogue.
APECS Executive Director, Sarah Strand, helped organize the AYD program as a member of the Youth Together for Arctic Futures project consortium team. APECS Executive Committee ex officio member, Deniz Vural, was a participant, served as a peer facilitator, and moderated the session “How can sustainable industries develop in harmony with the Arctic environment”.
The APECS International Directorate is grateful to the project consortium team and participants for contributing to a successful and deeply meaningful program. The project is led by the WWF Global Arctic Programme, in cooperation with: Arctic Youth Network, European Youth Parliament (Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa) and its Norway Alumni Association, Saami Council, Arctic Mayors’ Forum, Tromsø kommune, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and APECS.
The Youth Together for Arctic Futures project is funded by the European Union. This content is the sole responsibility of APECS and project partners and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.