The Government of Iceland, with financial support from the Nordic Council of Ministers, will host the Second International Symposium on Plastics in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Region at Harpa, Reykjavík Concert Hall and Conference Center, on 22-23 November 2023.

The event aims to gather scientific, Indigenous and local knowledge on plastic pollution and discuss ways and means to reduce the impact of plastics on Arctic ecosystems.

The symposium will evaluate the present extent and nature of plastic pollution in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic region and discuss its impact on ecosystems and communities. The origin of plastic litter, how it is transported to or in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic region and how breakdown processes are affecting the status of pollution will also be addressed. In addition, the symposium will focus on possible mitigation methods and how they can be implemented.

Conference themes are the following:

• Monitoring and assessment of plastic pollution in the Arctic.
• Methodological developments to determine macro, micro and nano plastics.        
• Sources and transport of plastic in the Arctic and sub-Arctic.
• Impacts of marine litter in the Arctic (environmental, economic and social).
• Arctic challenges and solutions for improved waste management.
• Tackling plastic pollution: international collaboration, policies, best practices and novel developments from around the world.

The detailed programme of the event.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR), the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the University of the Arctic (UArctic), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) the Polar Institute of Wilson Center, GRID-Arendal, the Center for the Ocean and the Arctic, UiT the Arctic University of Norway and the Nature Institute of Greenland to become partners in the event.

Source: Arctic Plastics Symposium

Also read the publication:
Iceland Builds Wall to Protect Power Plant from Lava