A toolkit for meaningful engagement in Arctic Norway

Empower Arctic Project: Building bridges in Arctic Norway! With support from UiT Talent Innovation grant 2025, this initiative develops a toolkit to foster understanding between energy companies, municipalities, and diverse social groups. By collaborating with stakeholders and rightsholders like municipality leaders, Sámi organisations, and environmental organisations, the project identifies best practices for inclusive public consultations in energy projects. Together, we’re shaping sustainable and respectful energy solutions for Northern Norway.

Norway has committed to reduce its climate emissions by 55% by 2030 and by 90%-95% by 2050. The decarbonisation of the different sectors is expected to significantly increase electricity demand. Without a proportionate expansion of renewable energy production, Northern Norway could face a power deficit by 2050 according to Statnett (2025)’s long-term market analysis. Based on today’s technological status, onshore wind provides the lowest cost of energy production, but it is also land-demanding. This gives rise to increasing land-use tensions with various interest groups and reindeer herders. Following the Fosen onshore wind conflict, these tensions have led to opposition to renewable energy projects around Norway, especially in Northern Norway. Consequently, this could lead to a delay in the low-carbon energy transition in Norway. The objective of the Empower Arctic project is to create a toolkit for reducing misunderstandings by establishing a list of points for energy companies and municipalities to consider when engaging different social groups in Northern Norway.

The research questions guiding this study are as follows:

1. What are the current practices for involving stakeholders and rightsholders in energy-related public processes?
2. How do these processes work for those involved?
3. What conditions should be in place to ensure that the involved parties and their interests are adequately safeguarded?

Members

Claudia ChengAssistant Professor (Group leader)

Claudia Cheng  –  Assistant Professor

Contact:

Position: Assistant Professor

E-mail: claudia.s.cheng@uit.no

Link to employee page (Claudia Cheng)

Link to this page

Close

Larry Ibrahim MohammedDoctoral Research Fellow

Larry Ibrahim Mohammed  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Contact:

Position: Doctoral Research Fellow

E-mail: ibrahim.m.larry@uit.no

Work phone: +4777649112

Link to employee page (Larry Ibrahim Mohammed)

Link to this page

Close

Berit KristoffersenAssociate Professor

Berit Kristoffersen  –  Associate Professor

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: berit.kristoffersen@uit.no

Work phone: +4777646967

Private phone: +47 95 70 26 00

Link to employee page (Berit Kristoffersen)

Link to this page

Close

Hans-Kristian HernesProfessor

Hans-Kristian Hernes  –  Professor

Contact:

Position: Professor

E-mail: hans-kristian.hernes@uit.no

Work phone: +4777645602

Private phone: 416 94 976

Link to employee page (Hans-Kristian Hernes)

Link to this page

Close

Events

Contact us:

Claudia Cheng: claudia.s.cheng@uit.no

Larry Ibrahim Mohammed: ibrahim.m.larry@uit.no

Empower Arctic