Working Group on the Arctic Ocean
Working Group on the Arctic Ocean
Working Group on the Arctic Ocean
ARCTIC YOUTH OCEANS AYO
Empowering Today’s Youth to Impact the Future
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean governance, conservation, and sustainable use.
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean-related topics, to strengthen the understanding on the effects of anthropogenic activities on the ocean and its integral importance for all life systems on Earth. In line with the general Arctic Youth Network (AYN) principles, the future path of the AYO is to be a youth-led organisation in which the interests, perspectives, and issues of Nordic and Indigenous Youth, especially regarding the Arctic Ocean, are heard, integrated and supported.
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Interested to join AYO?
ARCTIC YOUTH OCEANS AYO
Empowering Today’s Youth to Impact the Future
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean governance, conservation, and sustainable use.
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean-related topics, to strengthen the understanding on the effects of anthropogenic activities on the ocean and its integral importance for all life systems on Earth. In line with the general Arctic Youth Network (AYN) principles, the future path of the AYO is to be a youth-led organisation in which the interests, perspectives, and issues of Nordic and Indigenous Youth, especially regarding the Arctic Ocean, are heard, integrated and supported.
////////
Interested to join AYO?
ARCTIC YOUTH OCEANS
Empowering Today’s Youth to Impact the Future
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean governance, conservation, and sustainable use.
The AYN Oceans Group is a youth-led platform for young people across the world to discuss and collaborate on ocean-related topics, to strengthen the understanding on the effects of anthropogenic activities on the ocean and its integral importance for all life systems on Earth. In line with the general Arctic Youth Network (AYN) principles, the future path of the AYO is to be a youth-led organisation in which the interests, perspectives, and issues of Nordic and Indigenous Youth, especially regarding the Arctic Ocean, are heard, integrated and supported.
Interested to join AYO?
Thematic Areas/ Networks
The Ocean covers about 70 percent of the Earth and is the key to all life on Earth. Only recently have we begun to understand the magnitude of the impact, which we have on the marine environment, and the need to prioritise the protection of the ocean and its ecosystems.
Biodiversity
Marine biodiversity is the variety of all oceans and plays a vital role for humans, but especially coastal communities and even more so, Arctic coastal communities, which oftentimes depend on it for sustenance. However, biodiversity loss is seen across all areas of the globe, including the ocean and is threatening the livelihood of many coastal communities who depend on marine biodiversity. The thematic network focuses on topics including eg. the High Seas Treaty under the auspices of the UN (BBNJ process).
Marine Pollution
While the Arctic Ocean is still often understood as a pristine area, we now know that pollution from a variety of sources, including plastics, pesticides and methane for example, is widely spread across the Arctic. Even though the pollution might be also sourced locally, many contaminants are transported over large distances and enter the region via different pathways, such as the air or ocean currents. This has a detrimental effect on Arctic biodiversity, the environment and subsequently, Arctic coastal communities.
Climate Change
The term “ocean-climate nexus” refers to the negative impact of climate change on the ocean’s health but also the role of the ocean in global climate regulation. As such, the ocean represents at the same time a “victim” of impacts induced by anthropogenic/human activities but is also, by many, seen as a solution for the mitigation of climate change. As a healthy ocean supports the human right to life, health, food, water and culture, as described by the United Nations, the ocean-climate nexus is an important concept also for the Arctic region.
Marine Governance & Coastal Communities
How humans live with and use the Arctic Ocean is defined by traditions, customs, rules, and laws. All of those collectively contribute to the Arctic's marine governance. In the Arctic Ocean, governance approaches vary greatly because it is divided into areas under national jurisdiction of each of the five coastal states and areas beyond any national jurisdiction. Those living with the Arctic Ocean, the closest and the longest, are Indigenous and coastal communities, and their knowledge is central to sustainable ocean stewardship.
Thematic Areas/ Networks
The Ocean covers about 70 percent of the Earth and is the key to all life on Earth. Only recently have we begun to understand the magnitude of the impact, which we have on the marine environment, and the need to prioritise the protection of the ocean and its ecosystems.
Biodiversity
Marine biodiversity is the variety of all oceans and plays a vital role for humans, but especially coastal communities and even more so, Arctic coastal communities, which oftentimes depend on it for sustenance. However, biodiversity loss is seen across all areas of the globe, including the ocean and is threatening the livelihood of many coastal communities who depend on marine biodiversity. The thematic network focuses on topics including eg. the High Seas Treaty under the auspices of the UN (BBNJ process).
Marine Pollution
While the Arctic Ocean is still often understood as a pristine area, we now know that pollution from a variety of sources, including plastics, pesticides and methane for example, is widely spread across the Arctic. Even though the pollution might be also sourced locally, many contaminants are transported over large distances and enter the region via different pathways, such as the air or ocean currents. This has a detrimental effect on Arctic biodiversity, the environment and subsequently, Arctic coastal communities.
Climate Change
The term “ocean-climate nexus” refers to the negative impact of climate change on the ocean’s health but also the role of the ocean in global climate regulation. As such, the ocean represents at the same time a “victim” of impacts induced by anthropogenic/human activities but is also, by many, seen as a solution for the mitigation of climate change. As a healthy ocean supports the human right to life, health, food, water and culture, as described by the United Nations, the ocean-climate nexus is an important concept also for the Arctic region.
Marine Governance & Coastal Communities
How humans live with and use the Arctic Ocean is defined by traditions, customs, rules, and laws. All of those collectively contribute to the Arctic's marine governance. In the Arctic Ocean, governance approaches vary greatly because it is divided into areas under national jurisdiction of each of the five coastal states and areas beyond any national jurisdiction. Those living with the Arctic Ocean, the closest and the longest, are Indigenous and coastal communities, and their knowledge is central to sustainable ocean stewardship.
Thematic Areas/ Networks
Biodiversity
Marine biodiversity is the variety of all oceans and plays a vital role for humans, but especially coastal communities and even more so, Arctic coastal communities, which oftentimes depend on it for sustenance. However, biodiversity loss is seen across all areas of the globe, including the ocean and is threatening the livelihood of many coastal communities who depend on marine biodiversity. The thematic network focuses on topics including eg. the High Seas Treaty under the auspices of the UN (BBNJ process).
Marine Pollution
While the Arctic Ocean is still often understood as a pristine area, we now know that pollution from a variety of sources, including plastics, pesticides and methane for example, is widely spread across the Arctic. Even though the pollution might be also sourced locally, many contaminants are transported over large distances and enter the region via different pathways, such as the air or ocean currents. This has a detrimental effect on Arctic biodiversity, the environment and subsequently, Arctic coastal communities.
Climate Change
The term “ocean-climate nexus” refers to the negative impact of climate change on the ocean’s health but also the role of the ocean in global climate regulation. As such, the ocean represents at the same time a “victim” of impacts induced by anthropogenic/human activities but is also, by many, seen as a solution for the mitigation of climate change. As a healthy ocean supports the human right to life, health, food, water and culture, as described by the United Nations, the ocean-climate nexus is an important concept also for the Arctic region.
Marine Governance & Coastal Communities
How humans live with and use the Arctic Ocean is defined by traditions, customs, rules, and laws. All of those collectively contribute to the Arctic's marine governance. In the Arctic Ocean, governance approaches vary greatly because it is divided into areas under national jurisdiction of each of the five coastal states and areas beyond any national jurisdiction. Those living with the Arctic Ocean, the closest and the longest, are Indigenous and coastal communities, and their knowledge is central to sustainable ocean stewardship.
Upcoming Events
‘Why Care?‘ Series
In its efforts on raising awareness for the impacts human activities have on marine ecosystems in the Arctic, the AYO has defined four key issues:
climate change
biodiversity loss,
marine pollution, and
governance and coastal communities.
In 2025, the AYO hosts a series of four events asking “Why care?” with one event per key issue. These online events start with a keynote presentation serving as an introduction to the key issue highlighted in the event. The issues are then discusses in following round-table debates with Arctic and Indigenous youth, experts from research as well as industry, and other relevant stakeholders. After each debate, the audience is invited to an exchange with the panel, guided by a set of questions posed by the AYO.
Why Care? Marine Pollution in the Arctic Ocean
19th November 2025 – online
hosted by Arctic Youth Oceans
Past Events
‘Why Care?‘ Series
Why Care? Biodiversity loss in the Arctic Ocean
11th September 2025 – online
hosted by Arctic Youth Oceans
Upcoming Events
‘Why Care?‘ Series
In its efforts on raising awareness for the impacts human activities have on marine ecosystems in the Arctic, the AYO has defined four key issues:
climate change
biodiversity loss,
marine pollution, and
governance and coastal communities.
In 2025, the AYO hosts a series of four events asking “Why care?” with one event per key issue. These online events start with a keynote presentation serving as an introduction to the key issue highlighted in the event. The issues are then discusses in following round-table debates with Arctic and Indigenous youth, experts from research as well as industry, and other relevant stakeholders. After each debate, the audience is invited to an exchange with the panel, guided by a set of questions posed by the AYO.
Why Care? Marine Pollution in the Arctic Ocean
19th November 2025 – online
hosted by Arctic Youth Oceans
Past Events
‘Why Care?‘ Series
In its efforts on raising awareness for the impacts human activities have on marine ecosystems in the Arctic, the AYO has defined four key issues:
climate change
biodiversity loss,
marine pollution, and
governance and coastal communities.
In 2025, the AYO hosts a series of four events asking “Why care?” with one event per key issue. These online events start with a keynote presentation serving as an introduction to the key issue highlighted in the event. The issues are then discusses in following round-table debates with Arctic and Indigenous youth, experts from research as well as industry, and other relevant stakeholders. After each debate, the audience is invited to an exchange with the panel, guided by a set of questions posed by the AYO.
Why Care?
Biodiversity loss in the Arctic Ocean
11th September 2025 – online
hosted by Arctic Youth Oceans
Past Events
‘Why Care?‘ Series
In its efforts on raising awareness for the impacts human activities have on marine ecosystems in the Arctic, the AYO has defined four key issues:
climate change
biodiversity loss,
marine pollution, and
governance and coastal communities.
In 2025, the AYO hosts a series of four events asking “Why care?” with one event per key issue. These online events start with a keynote presentation serving as an introduction to the key issue highlighted in the event. The issues are then discusses in following round-table debates with Arctic and Indigenous youth, experts from research as well as industry, and other relevant stakeholders. After each debate, the audience is invited to an exchange with the panel, guided by a set of questions posed by the AYO.
Why Care? Biodiversity loss in the Arctic Ocean
11th September 2025 – online
hosted by Arctic Youth Oceans
AYO Team Lead
“With a deep-rooted appreciation for the oceans and their ecosystems, I dedicate my skills, time, and my training as an educator to make ocean governance accessible to anyone who shares this fascination for the oceans. This way, youth can bring the political changes the Arctic Ocean needs to keep playing a key role in sustaining wider Earth systems”.
AYO Team Lead
“With a deep-rooted appreciation for the oceans and their ecosystems, I dedicate my skills, time, and my training as an educator to make ocean governance accessible to anyone who shares this fascination for the oceans. This way, youth can bring the political changes the Arctic Ocean needs to keep playing a key role in sustaining wider Earth systems”.
AYO Team Lead
“With a deep-rooted appreciation for the oceans and their ecosystems, I dedicate my skills, time, and my training as an educator to make ocean governance accessible to anyone who shares this fascination for the oceans. This way, youth can bring the political changes the Arctic Ocean needs to keep playing a key role in sustaining wider Earth systems”.