POLAR TALK: Green colonialism for the "green" transition in the Arctic

Speakers: Eva Fjellheim (Arctic University of Norway UiT), Ellen Marie Jensen (Austrian Polar Research Institute), Thierry Rodon (Université Laval, Canada)

The implementation of the energy transition, the European Green Deal policy and the efforts of society in Europe to make the economy and people's lifestyles "greener" require renewable energies. For electronic vehicles, wind turbines or digital devices etc., more and more critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, copper, rare earths etc. are needed. Many of these deposits and large-scale wind farms are located in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, which is also home to Indigenous peoples.

Our speakers are Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers with deep knowledge of how Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Sápmi deal with corporate and political pressure and the legal conditions for industry and state intrusion into their lands. Polar Talk #13 will illustrate the power of Indigenous groups and their claims to self-determination, as well as the double standards of a society that wants to "go green" at the expense of violating Indigenous rights and jeopardising peoples' cultural existence.

Hosts:
Simon Batterbury (University of Melbourne, Australia & Lancaster University, UK)
Gertrude Saxinger (Austrian Polar Research Institute APRI & University of Vienna)

Event in English.

NHM Talks
Scientists from the museum and guest lecturers present their newest research and current topics.
The Polar Talk is free of charge, no ticket to the museum is needed.
No registration required. The event will be held in the lecture hall.


Image: © Thierry Rodon

Event on the website of APRI