The energy transition is considered essential for climate action and sustainability. However, this major change is also more fundamentally reshaping our societies and world politics, and its social, political, economic and environmental impacts are far reaching and complex. For instance, the move from fossil fuels towards renewable energy changes where and by whom energy can be produced and based on what resources; a relocation, rather than elimination, of the environmental costs; and potential reallocation of wealth and power linked to energy. The energy transition is giving rise to various new challenges, contestations and opportunities locally, and reshaping world politics. These changes are particularly visible in the context of the current geopolitical tensions in and around the Arctic region and the changing world order.

Our next Arctic World Politics Conversation, De/Colonial Energy: On the Politics and Justice in Energy transitions, discusses the politics of energy transition with particular focus on its manifold impact on Indigenous peoples, local communities and national and regional policies within the Arctic. By bringing together insights from Canada (Isaac Thornley, University of Toronto), Sápmi (Åsa Larsson Blind, Saami Council) and Finland and Norway (Marja Helena Sivonen, Finnish Environment Institute Syke) we examine themes such as the relationship between energy transitions, (green) colonialism and decolonization and the impact of geopolitical change on Nordic and Canadian energy discourses and policies. The key question we address is, how can the energy transition be steered towards a globally and locally more just, equalitarian and responsible world instead of reproducing the power structures and inequalities that we have inherited from the passing era of petrocultures and fossil hegemony. The conversation is moderated by Professor Laura Junka-Aikio (University of Lapland).

Speakers:

Åsa Larsson Blind is a Sámi politician and member of the Saami Council, where she previously held roles as both President and Vice President. Åsa is raised in a reindeer-herding family and has long been a voice for Sámi rights and representation, from chairing the National Sámi Association in Sweden (SSR) to representing Sámi interests internationally through the Arctic Council and the UN. Her work focuses on Indigenous rights, climate justice, and sustainable development, with a strong commitment to advancing Sámi self-determination and knowledge-based approaches to governance. Larsson Blind also has experience of municipal politics in Kiruna as a representative of a local Sámi party, Sámelistu. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Development from the University of Umeå.

Isaac Thornley is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability (IECS) and the Department of Human Geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough. His research focuses on the political and ideological dimensions of energy transitions, with a focus on conflicts related to fossil fuel pipelines, electric vehicle battery supply chains, and critical mineral extraction in Canada. He is interested in producing critical research in support of movements for social and environmental justice, decolonization, and energy democracy. His interdisciplinary work draws on political ecology, energy humanities, and (psychoanalytic) ideology critique.

Marja Helena Sivonen (PhD) currently works as a Senior Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute and is a visiting scholar at Arctic International Relations research group at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland during 2025–2026. Her research spans climate mitigation and adaptation, energy transitions, security, justice, and Arctic affairs. Grounded in social constructivist perspectives, she explores how discourse shapes societal change. She is also a vice-chair of the Finnish Arctic Society.

Arctic World Politics Conversations

Arctic World Politics Conversations bring together speakers from different parts of the Circumpolar Arctic, to discuss topical matters in Arctic World Politics across the geographic, political, social and cultural divisions and differences. Every event starts with a conversation between the invited speakers, after which the audience is also invited to participate with their comments, questions and ideas. Everyone is welcome and participation is free. Arctic World Politics Conversations are organized in collaboration between University of Lapland’s MA in Arctic World Politics (contact person Laura Junka-Aikio) and Trent University (contact person Heather Nicol).

Zoom link:

https://eoppimispalvelut.zoom.us/j/69322492089?pwd=WHdKS1JFa3dkQUNRempQclNEdjE2Zz09

Meeting ID: 693 2249 2089
Passcode: 338335