At this year’s Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) in Boulder, Colorado, members of the ArcSolution project played a central role in shaping the discussion around health and environmental change in the Arctic. ArcSolution researchers Mervi Heikkinen, Janne Näkkäläjärvi, and Arja Rautio organized the session titled “Arctic One Health.” The session brought together experts and community voices to explore the deep interconnections between environmental, wildlife, and human health.
The session highlighted the growing relevance of the One Health approach, particularly in Arctic regions where pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss directly impact traditional ways of life. ArcSolution researchers shared insights from their ongoing fieldwork and consultations in Arctic communities, focusing on sustainable strategies for pollution mitigation, food and water safety, and culturally sensitive public health practices.
“The One Health approach shows how human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected—especially in the Arctic, where thawing permafrost can release contaminants and infectious agents,” stressed Professor Arja Rautio, who is also the leader of Working Package 2 in the ArcSolution project. “Addressing these complex challenges requires not only interdisciplinary science but also trust and ethical collaboration with Indigenous communities. Open dialogue and shared values are essential for meaningful, impactful research.”
In addition to showcasing ArcSolution’s progress, the session also featured presentations from the project’s sister initiatives, ILLUQ and ICEBERG, further strengthening collaboration within the Horizon Europe research community. Together, these projects offer complementary perspectives on environmental monitoring, community resilience, and the role of Indigenous knowledge in addressing Arctic challenges.
The session emphasized that solutions to Arctic health and environmental crises must be local, inclusive, and grounded in science and traditional knowledge—a vision shared across all three projects.
