Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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The 5th All-Russian Youth Environmental Forum-Festival “Arctic. The Ice Has Begun to Move” of the “Rosmolodezh.Forums” platform opened in Naryan-Mar. This year, it is being held for the first time in the least populated region of the country – the Nenets Autonomous Okrug – and brings together over 500 participants, volunteers, and experts from 62 regions of the country.
A greeting to the participants and organizers of the forum was sent by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. It was read out by the Head of the Presidential Directorate for Public Projects of the Russian Federation, Sergey Novikov.
“Your meeting has gathered in Naryan-Mar, the capital of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, young activists who strive to contribute to ensuring a balance between economic activity and environmental preservation. They provide effective support to the state, local authorities, businesses, and scientific organizations in the prudent, careful economic development of Arctic territories and the elimination of accumulated environmental problems,” noted Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address.
The main theme of the anniversary forum will be the development of the Arctic. Participants will develop an Arctic quality of life standard that will make the Far North more attractive for young people to live in.
“At the forum ‘Arctic. The Ice Has Moved,’ part of the national project ‘Youth and Children,’ representatives from more than 60 regions of our country will develop an Arctic standard of quality of life to make the Far North more attractive for young people. They will also prepare proposals for the socio-economic development of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Several important aspects — assistance to participants of the special military operation and their families, housing, transport, communications, healthcare, sports — were discussed on the eve by President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the Governor of the NAO Irina Gekht. I am confident that the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, which will be celebrated by decree of the head of state in 2029, will become the driver of development for the entire region,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.
Forum participants will work in groups covering 11 areas: ecology, education, medicine, business, youth policy, culture, media, security, sports and healthy lifestyle, tourism, and state and municipal administration.
“The Arctic quality of life standard will help improve living conditions in small northern towns. At the forum, participants will get acquainted with the key social, cultural, and infrastructure facilities of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug – this will help them to delve deeper into the specifics of the Arctic zone, and then apply the acquired knowledge and experience in developing proposals for the region’s development,” noted the head of Rosmolodezh, Grigory Gurov.
The head of the department said that forum participants will visit key sites in the region on guided tours – the district hospital, the publishing house, the socio-cultural club of the village of Telviska, and the NAO search and rescue service.
As part of the business program at the forum venue, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, captain of the nuclear icebreaker “Yakutia” Dmitry Nikitin, and polar traveler Matvey Shparo will speak.
Governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Irina Gekht noted that it is a great honor for the NAO to host a forum of this scale for the first time. These days, Naryan-Mar will become a meeting place for young people who care about the future of the Arctic and the entire country. Participants from practically all over Russia have come to the forum, which is the best confirmation that interest in the North is only growing today.
“The Arctic is a territory of enormous opportunities. Here, the largest infrastructure projects are being created, new technologies are being developed, unique nature is preserved, and solutions are being formed that matter to the entire country. And it is very important that it is here today that young people have gathered, ready to propose ideas and participate in the development of the Russian North,” emphasized the governor of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Irina Gekht.
The forum paid great attention to the environmental agenda. Participants will clean and improve the shoreline of the Pechora River, the main water artery of the NAO. The event is timed to coincide with Pechora River Day, which is celebrated in the district on the last Sunday of August. Following the forum, active participants will receive a symbolic “Ticket to the Arctic” – the opportunity to take part in expeditions of the public environmental project “Clean Arctic,” become ambassadors of the Arctic in their region, and win a trip for the centenary of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug in 2029.
At the forum-festival, there will also be a grant competition by Rosmolodezh. Participants will present their socially significant projects and will be able to receive up to 1 million rubles for their implementation.
In previous years, “Arctica. The Ice Has Moved” was already held in the Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, as well as in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.
The organizers of the 5th All-Russian Forum-Festival “Arctic. The Ice Has Shifted” are the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the administration of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Clean Arctic”. The event is implemented within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”.
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