On 1 December 2025, BALTIC-FIT representatives Kristine Carjova, and Ilkka Perälä (VTT) joined the conference Antarctica Day: Polar Science, Environment and Politics, held at the Estonian Academy of Sciences in Tallinn. The event was jointly organised by the Estonian Academy of Sciences, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Ministry of Climate, and the Estonian Polar Club.
The conference was opened by Aari Lemmik, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bringing together scientists, diplomats, and policymakers, the event marked Antarctica Day through a lens of evidence-based dialogue. In addition to exploring environmental and geopolitical challenges in the polar regions, the programme also underlined Estonia’s growing role in shaping international discussions on polar governance.
The programme featured two expert panels:
– Polar Power Games: Geopolitics in the Frozen Frontiers, focused on shifting power dynamics and international cooperation in polar regions.
– Antarctic Environmental Protection, Climate Change and Europe, addressed environmental responsibilities and climate challenges in the South Pole.
Prof. Jonne Kotta, representative of the Maritime Research Group, contributed to the second panel, offering a scientific perspective on Europe’s role in protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems and mitigating climate impacts in polar regions.
Participation in this event reflects BALTIC-FIT’s ongoing engagement with environmental diplomacy and interdisciplinary cooperation across climate and maritime research.
