A New Arctic Narrative: Over 200 Voices Unite in Groundbreaking Global Publication
Tromsø, Norway – Prime Ministers, senators, artists, Indigenous youth, CEOs, and academics from across six continents have joined forces in a unique and unprecedented book about the Arctic. The Arctic Encyclopaedia, launching online on Monday, August 11, presents a mosaic of Arctic experiences—defined one word at a time.
With contributions from more than 200 individuals across 36 countries, this book reframes how the Arctic is perceived. It offers not a single narrative but a multitude of perspectives—each author invited to define one word that connects them to the region. Entries range from poetry and photography to essays and illustrations, capturing the cultural, economic, and emotional breadth of the Arctic.
“The Arctic is my home, but it means many things to many people,” says Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) who is behind the book. “This project doesn’t offer one definitive version of the Arctic—it lets each contributor define what the Arctic means to them. The result is a patchwork of voices and visions that together create a richer understanding of the region.”
The book features entries from notable global figures, including the Prime Ministers of Norway and Greece, US Senators, an EU Commissioner, Indigenous leaders from across the Arctic, and youth who will shape the region’s future. Contributors hail from as far afield as Zimbabwe, Egypt, Japan and Australia, demonstrating the Arctic’s far-reaching relevance in a rapidly changing world.
“Two-thirds of the contributors are from the Arctic itself. But we’ve also included photographers from Costa Rica, researchers from Indonesia, and executives from Switzerland,” says Frederiksen. “This is a reminder that the Arctic is global. Climate change might be visible in the high north but the implications are everywhere. Likewise, products like fish are caught in the cold waters of the Arctic but sold at global markets.”
The book explores a wide array of themes—from adventure, aquaculture, and ambassador to mining, myth, and mental health—with entries spanning the letters A to Ø, including local words like the Faroese Ætt.
“This is not a book to be shelved. It’s a book to be shared—in classrooms, over coffee tables, across generations,” says Frederiksen. “It can be read from beginning to end or opened at random. Each word offers a new insight.”
The hardcover edition is being printed in a limited run of 300 copies, with more possible pending additional funding. The online edition will be freely accessible to the public, aiming to be a resource for educators, students, policymakers, and curious minds alike.
The Arctic Encyclopaedia is published by the Arctic Economic Council, a pan-Arctic business organization dedicated to promoting sustainable economic development in the High North. The book was made possible through financial support from the European Union, the Nippon Foundation, and a private contributions.
Arctic Encyclopaedia
Media contact: info@arcticeconomiccouncil.com
About the Arctic Economic Council (AEC)
The AEC is an international, independent business organization based in Tromsø, Norway. It brings together companies—from small Arctic enterprises to global corporations—committed to responsible investment and sustainable development in the region.