As in the rest of the world, the Nordic and Arctic region is dealing with growing rates of Non-Communicable Diseases, which are all those diseases that are not passed from person to person. Common NCDs include heart disease, cancers, respiratory disease, and diabetes. These illnesses usually cause other health conditions and require long-term treatment and care. At the same time, the region faces challenges with ensuring access to quality health services, including for those living in remote areas. Moreover, mental health, abuse, and alcohol problems are a major priority and concern for many communities. Teams working on this track will address SDG 3 with these regional challenges in mind and with a specific focus on the (tentative) subthemes access to healthcare and mental health.

With their unique geographical and topographical features, the Arctic and Nordic regions face specific challenges in terms of education. Despite many positive developments, countries in the region struggle with low numbers of young people enrolled in education, large dropout rates among students and teachers, as well as inequalities in the quality of available education, from preschool to higher education. Education is essential to providing equal opportunities for everyone and plays a central role in positive societal development. In line with SDG 4, innovative solutions within this track could focus on the (tentative) subthemes of access to education and lifelong learning and upskilling.

Did you know that temperatures in the Arctic region are increasing at twice the rate of the global average? Climate change is already affecting Arctic and Nordic nature, including biodiversity, and the impact will increase as temperatures rise. This has great consequences for the people living in the region, as arctic communities have a strong relationship with the nature they live in and are highly dependent on it. During the Lab, teams could focus on developing solutions for the (tentative) subthemes climate friendly tourism, awareness and education on climate change (SDG 13), plastic/marine pollution, sustainable fishery (SDG 14), biodiversity and ecosystems, sustainable use of natural resources (SDG 15)