Did you know that Rovaniemi is the birthplace of Arctic cooperation? In 1991, the city held a meeting of environment ministers on Finland’s initiative. The forms of cooperation pertaining to the Arctic environment were established and they became the basis for the Arctic Council. At the time, this was called the Rovaniemi Process.

Arctic cooperation was launched at a time of change, when the Cold War had just ended and new possibilities arose. It was the time of ideas and creating many of the matters that now guide the actions in the Arctic Region. This is a story about how it all happened.