The Polar Dialogue builds on the preceding Paris Polar Summit held at the initiative of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron in November 2023, and a series of discussions during consultative meetings with key stakeholders in Paris, Reykjavík, Monaco and Berlin.

High-level political leaders participate and are committed to the Polar Dialogue for the purpose of enhancing a constructive dialogue with the scientific community.

The inaugural Polar Dialogue took place at the 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly and consisted of a series of sessions, consultative meetings, workshops and high-level Plenary Sessions.

The 2025 Arctic Circle Polar Dialogue will take place during the Arctic Circle Assembly at the Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Reykjavík, Iceland, October 16 - 18.

More than 300 participants joined this inaugural event with important contributions from global experts and policymakers.

The Chair - H.E. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland 2017-2024

The Co-Chair - Antje Boetius, Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

Senior Fellow, Polar Institute Wilson Center

President, International Arctic Science Committee

Glaciologist, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Research Professor and Vice Director-General, Arctic Observation Center, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

Dr Gyamtsho has over three decades of leadership experience in environment and sustainability, agricultural research, natural resource management and planning, and other areas, and has served the Royal Government of Bhutan as Minister of Agriculture and Forests. His 2020 appointment as Director General marks his return to ICIMOD. He worked previously with the Centre, both with the Governing Board as a representative and observer of Bhutan, and in a senior-level position, during which he travelled throughout the region.

Pema Gyamtsho has a PhD in natural sciences from ETH Zurich in Switzerland and a Masters in Agriculture Science from New Zealand.

Professor, Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC); Director, China-Nordic-Arctic Research Center (CNARC)

President, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)

Ambassador for Polar and Maritime Issues of France

Director General and Vice President EJD, Europe Jacques Delors

Pro-rector research and development, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Jan-Gunnar Winther is the Director of the Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic, Nofima & Specialist Director at the Norwegian Polar Institute. He has a Ph.D. (and M.S.) from the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH). Dr. Winther is Chair of the Board of GRID Arendal (since 2017). From 2005 to 2017 he served as director of the NPI. In 2017 he became an Adjunct Professor at École Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL) and he was Adjunct Professor at the University Centre in Svalbard from 2002-2007. Dr. Winther was leader course at the Norwegian National Defense College in 2003 and 2013.
Dr. Winther serves on a number of national and international committees and delegations including deputy chair of the Norwegian Government’s Expert Committee on Northern Regions Policies, national expert to the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, Lead Author on IPCC’s AR5, member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences, the World Economic Forum, United Nations Global Compact Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business, China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development, expert to the High Level Panel on Sustainable Blue Economy and the Explorers Club.

Vice-President, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, Brazil

Chairman's Advisor, International Affairs Office, Presidential Court, UAE

Professor, Ca' Foscari University of Venice; Former Director of the Institute of Polar Science, National Research Council, Italy

Polar Dialogue 2024

The Polar Dialogue unites global experts and policymakers to address scientific challenges and foster collaboration on the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalaya - Third Pole region.

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