University College of the North has been named the lead institution for a new international network on solid waste management in the Arctic.

The University of the Arctic approved the Thematic Network on Solid Waste Management on May 29th in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. UCN’s Dr. Anderson Assuah, who will lead the network, presented the proposal in person.

The initiative aims to help Arctic communities tackle waste challenges caused by extreme weather, remoteness, and policy gaps. It will emphasize working directly with communities and respecting Indigenous approaches to waste management.

The network will foster research, workshops, webinars, and community projects, connecting eleven institutions across five Arctic countries, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands.

Dr. Assuah says the goal is simple but vital: “To bring about sustainable solutions for the unique challenges Arctic communities face.”