Japan-Russia Scientific Forum
Online Workshop “Sustainable Regional Development, International Cooperationand the Protection of the Arctic Environment”
Date and time:

14 September 2021 (Tue), 15:00-18:00 (Japan time) / 9:00-12:00 (Moscow time)

Organizers:
Hokkaido University; Moscow State University; Association of Institutions ofHigher Education of Russian Federation and Japan
Co-organizers:
Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) II Project; UArctic Thematic
Network on the Arctic in Asia, Asia in the Arctic
Target audience:scholars, students and practitioners from Russia, Japan and other Arctic and nonArctic (East Asian etc.) countries.
Format:online (via Zoom)

Languages:

English (with simultaneous interpretation into Japanese and Russian)

Outline:This workshop is one of the 4 sessions of the Japan-Russia Scientific Forum heldwith the aim of promoting Japan-Russia academic collaboration for the achievement of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). It draws on the results of the following seminars which were co-organizedby the Japanese participants of the specialized section “SDGs: Environment, Resource Development
and Multicultural Education”, Arctic Challenge for Sustainability (ArCS) II Project (particularly, theresearch program “Elucidating the Complex Dynamics of Arctic Politics and Its Contribution toJapan’s Arctic Policy” and its Subgroup 4 “Non-state actors and paradiplomacy”):
1. Seminar 1 “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 1 – The Pacific Arctic”
held on 12 January 2021;
2. Seminar 2 “Japan-Russia Interregional Cooperation in the Arctic and North – Theory andPractice” held on 3 March 2021;
3. Seminar 3 “Multilevel Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Vol. 2 – The BarentsRegion” held on 9 June 2021.
These seminars and the current workshop share the common purpose to critically evaluate the current
stage and forecast the future course of the interregional cooperation between Japanese and Russian actors.
Through the understanding of the meaningful issue areas for cooperation and the possibilities and1

limitations different actors and forums of cooperation have, we may be able to increase the effectivenessof resource use. They also aim at contributing to the future academic cooperation between Japan andRussia by bringing together scholars from various universities, building on the cooperation and networks
that were established during the 2019-2020 Cold Land Seminars/Northern Sustainable DevelopmentForums.
The current workshop “Sustainable Regional Development, International Cooperation and the Protectionof the Arctic Environment” will gather some of the participants of the specialized section “(4) SDGs:
Environment, Resource Development and Multicultural Education” and their Russian and otherinternational counterparts to discuss the ecologically sustainable development and protection of theArctic. The main topics for discussion will be multi-level governance, the role and possibilities ofregional and local actors (including indigenous peoples) and cross-border cooperation.
How to register: Please register via Google Forms (https://forms.gle/Esnp2UBHBxjHFZAQ7) bySeptember 10.
Contacts: For inquiries, please contact Juha Saunavaara (Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center)juha.saunavaara@arc.hokudai.ac.jp
or Marina Lomaeva (Hokkaido University Division of International Relations)m.v.lomaeva@oia.hokudai.ac.jp
Draft program (as of 14 September2021)
Time (Japan)

Program

15:00-15:10

Opening remarks
Moderator: Juha Saunavaara (Hokkaido University)

15:10-15:30

Presentation 1: Olga Tutubalina (Moscow State University) “The role of regional
and local actors in the protection and study of the Arctic and northern environment(Case study: Norilsk Industrial region)” (20 min.)

15:30-15:40

Commentary 1: Irina Onufrenya (WWF Russia) (10 min.)15:40-16:00

Presentation 2: Vyacheslav Shadrin (Chairman of the Council of Elders of theYukaghir people and Vice President of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Associationof Indigenous Minorities of the North) “The role of indigenous peoples of theNorth and their associations in environmental protection in the North and theArctic.” (20 min.)

16:00-16:10

Commentary 2: Jeffry Gayman (Hokkaido University) (10 min.)16:10-16:25

Q&A (15 min.)16:25-16:35

Break (10 min.)16:35-16:55

Presentation 3: Alexander Pilyasov, Nadezhda Zamyatina (Moscow State2University) “Economic development of the Russian Arctic 2.0: Major results fromthe three-year research project” (20 min.)
16:55-17:05

Commentary 3: Shinichiro Tabata (Hokkaido University) (10 min.)

17:05-17:25

Presentation 4: Ilya Stepanov (HSE University) “Climate Change and theLimits for the Development and Cooperation in the Arctic” (20 min.)

17:25-17:35

Commentary 4: Aileen A. Espiritu (UiT The Arctic University of Norway, theBarents Institute) (10 min.)

17:35-17:50

Q&A (15 min.)

17:50-18:00

Closing remarks

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