Public Health and mental Wellbeing

Mayors and community leaders sit at the crossroads of public health policy and implementation. While the creation of policy and associated regulations takes place in capitals, it is local authorities that have varying responsibilities for implementation. What is clear is that residents, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, of Arctic cities, towns and villages are the ones impacted by the delivery of health services.

Leaders at the community and municipal level have a special duty to ensure that the health and wellbeing needs of their citizens are being met. AMF is uniquely positioned to represent the voices of Arctic residents and enhance northern municipalities’ capacity to deal with health and wellness challenges. In this regard, the AMF occupies an important niche that complements and strengthens existing Arctic national and circumpolar governance structures.

In October 2023, AMF members met in Reykjavik for a strategy session and agreed that public health and wellness will be a strategic focus of work for the Forum for the next period – spanning the Arctic Council and AMF Chairships of Norway and the Kingdom of Denmark.

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As such, this principle calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for people and the planet. For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize social equity, economic development, and environmental protection. These core principles are interconnected and crucial for the well-being of individuals and societies.

It means that Arctic communities must be at the table during discussions on sustainable development. The voices of our political leaders, our elders and our youngest citizens need to be honored and heard. Arctic Mayors are dedicated to listening to what Arctic inhabitants say, without pre-judging the outcome. Leaders of all kinds – political, business, academia, and civil society – need to recommit to plan sustainable communities together.

There is an urgency to this work. Arctic communities have to own the challenges of climate change and green transition. But we also need to share “made in the Arctic” solutions, not only in capitals but east to west across Arctic borders through our Arctic networks and knowledge hubs.

Sustainable development must be based on best available knowledge, which includes knowledge derived from scientific data, Indigenous peoples’ knowledge and local knowledge. Finally, gender equality is a pre-requisite for inclusive sustainable development.

Attractiveness & Retention

Attracting people to live and work in the Arctic is a challenge facing many of our member municipalities. As access to the Arctic’s natural resources becomes easier, there is an increasing need for skills and talent to meet new demands. This means that our Arctic communities must develop infrastructure and housing, as well as access to services that either don’t exist or need improvement.

We need to make newcomers feel welcome in our northern societies so that people want to stay in the Arctic for reasons beyond a good job. This includes ensuring that people have meaningful ways of engaging outside of work with a wide selection of social, cultural, and sports activities.

Youth

The Arctic’s youngest citizens reside in the villages, towns, and cities that make up the communities of the Arctic. The first exposure to the democratic principles that define our societies come at the local level. Arctic Mayors feel a special responsibility to the young people who will one day lead us through challenging times defined by climate change and geo-political instability. It is our duty to listen, now.

Arctic Mayors’ Forum is engaged in two important activities driven by Arctic Youth. The first is an annual Arctic Policy Hackathon, in partnership with The Gordon Foundation and Global Affairs Canada. The second is the EU Funded Project Youth Together for Arctic Futures where AMF will develop and implement a mentorship program.

Working with partners

The Arctic is as diverse as the people that call it home and the Arctic Mayors’ Forum works with a variety of stakeholders to cooperate on activities that directly benefit the Peoples and communities of the Arctic.

We work by partnering in projects, working closely with research institutions, sharing results and best practices, and working together to find the resources to work across Arctic borders.