Voices from the Arctic: Inuit Leadership in Global Change with Dr. Sara Olsvig

In this episode of the We Need to Act podcast, we are honored to welcome Sara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), representing around 180,000 Inuit across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia.Sara shares her experience leading the global Inuit voice in international forums such as the United Nations, the Arctic Council, and the International Maritime Organization. She explains why Inuit and Indigenous peoples must be at the center of decisions about the Arctic, climate change, biodiversity, and resource governance — guided by the principle “nothing about us without us.”The conversation explores the Inuit relationship with nature, climate change impacts in the Arctic, environmental protection versus resource extraction, and the human rights dimensions of pollution and biodiversity loss. Sara also addresses current geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland, the legacy of colonization, self-determination, and why there is “no such thing as a better colonizer.”Finally, she reflects on resilience, hope, and the importance of multilateral cooperation, Indigenous knowledge, and respect for Arctic peoples in shaping a just and sustainable future.🎧 A powerful and eye-opening conversation on climate justice, Indigenous rights, and the future of the Arctic.Episode HighlightsSara Olsvig, Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, on representing Inuit across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and RussiaThe Arctic as a lived environment, not an empty ice desertWhy Inuit and Indigenous peoples must be part of all decisions affecting their lands and watersThe Arctic warming three to four times faster than the global averageClimate change and pollution as human rights issuesTensions between environmental protection, resource extraction, and Indigenous livelihoodsGreenland, self-determination, and resistance to renewed colonial narrativesThe role of international cooperation and multilateral institutionsInuit resilience, adaptation, and hope for the futurePlease show us your support by...Tune in and subscribe to the We Need to Act podcast via Spotify or Apple Podcasts.Support our show by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buying us a coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Join our page on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our newsletter on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠