On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Arctic Research Center held a special seminar with Dr. Espiritu Aileen, a researcher and visiting professor at the Barents Institute of the University of Tromsø, the Arctic University of Norway. Dr. Espiritu was visiting the Center to discuss research plans with Associate Professor Saunavaara Juha of the Center. The format of the seminar was hybrid, with a total of nine participants (including one online). Espiritu gave a talk titled “Bridging economic development and urban sustainability towards the UN Agenda 2030: comparing Tromsø in the Arctic and Muroran in Northern Japan.” In her speech, Dr. Espiritu explained the similarities and differences between Tromsø, Norway, and Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, which have almost the same population size, in terms of environment, economy, and policies. She stated that the two cities have a lot in common in realizing the SDGs including zero carbon and renewable energy development. Information exchange and cooperation between cities trying to advance the UN SDGs are important.
Lecturer Espiritu (right) and co-researcher Saunavaara (Arctic Research Center) (left)
