Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic

The report examines the development of leadership capacities among youth in the circumpolar North, specifically focusing on the impact of the Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program and other experiential learning initiatives. It identifies a 'capacity deficit' in the North where positions outnumber qualified locals, and outlines systemic barriers such as biased educational curricula and a lack of northern role models. The document argues for a diversified, long-term regional leadership strategy that integrates indigenous and western teachings, expands post-secondary access, and increases youth participation in decision-making processes.

• The Arctic region faces a capacity deficit where the growth of institutions and economy has created more positions than there are qualified northerners to fill them.
• Effective leadership in the northern context requires a blend of global and local perspectives, including an innate understanding of the North's history, cultures, and languages, as well as intercultural communication skills.
• Youth in the North face significant structural and individual barriers to leadership, including a secondary education curriculum biased toward a southern worldview, high dropout rates, and a lack of northern role models due to the importation of professionals from the South.
• The Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program has demonstrated success in career acceleration, with 72 per cent of alumni stating the program helped fast-track their career development and 72 per cent currently working on sustainability issues in the North.
• Experiential learning programs, such as Students on Ice and Northern Youth Abroad, are effective in building 'soft skills' like teamwork and communication, and significantly boosting the self-confidence of northern youth.
• Capacity-building programs for northern youth often struggle with marketing and recruitment, particularly when the programs are not located within the North, and face continual funding challenges.
• The report recommends the creation of a Regional Leadership Strategy and the establishment of a Training Centre for Indigenous Peoples of the North to increase ownership of capacity-building by First Nations and Inuit organizations.
• There is a critical need to expand post-secondary education within the North, including the potential establishment of a university, to prevent youth from being forced to leave the region for degrees.

APA

Buckler, C., Wright, L., & Normand, L. (2009). Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/securing_sustainable_future_arctic.pdf

Chicago

Buckler, Carolee, Linda Wright, and Laura Normand. Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/securing_sustainable_future_arctic.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Buckler |first1=Carolee |last2=Wright |first2=Linda |last3=Normand |first3=Laura |title=Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/securing_sustainable_future_arctic.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{buckler2009securing, author = {Buckler, Carolee and Wright, Linda and Normand, Laura}, title = {{Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/securing_sustainable_future_arctic.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }