JustNorth: Resilience & identity in the arctic

I’m hugely excited to announce I’ve been commissioned to make my first feature length documentary. The film will show the viability of new economic development of the Arctic through a sustainable justice perspective, by reflecting researchers insights on the positive and negative impacts, risks and benefits of key economic activities. This documentary will seek to create understanding on the potential for economic development in the North that is both sustainable and just by showing how to reduce inequalities between Arctic stakeholders.

The project ‘JUSTNORTH’ led by researchers in the Arctic Justice initiative, Dr Corine Wood-Donnelly at the Institute for Russian & Eurasian Studies and Dr Roman Sidortsov has been awarded €6 million in funding under the EU’s Research and Innovation priority area of ‘building a low-carbon, climate resilient future’. 

The Arctic is a region of 4 million inhabitants with vibrant cities & communities, universities, rich historic and cultural heritage and outstanding vital eco system. The warming of the Arctic has geo-economic implications – for energy markets, transports, access to raw materials and even security. In the European Arctic there is an expected investment of 277 billion euros by 2030, largely focused on the construction, mining, logistics, energy, tourism and creative sectors-- but there is a need to understand the impact, risks and opportunities this brings to Northern communities. The results of the research and subsequent documentary film will influence European Union Arctic policy.

 The project will:

·      Co-develop a negotiation tool, allowing measurement for different stakeholder perspectives in economic development projects and creating potential for achieving sustainable outcomes, premised on actor-specific values.

·      Develop recommendations for the EU Integrated Arctic Policy on regulatory pathways necessary to create the conditions for sustainable development.

·      Evaluate the current conditions of economic activities in the Arctic against the indicators for sustainable development goals. 

·      Produce an influencial feature length documentary with unique perspectives into Arctic sustainable development with filming undertaken in 2022 and completion in 2023