Energy security and the cost of living are constant challenges in most polar regions.
While regions to the south focus on things such as offshore drilling and how northern resources can be accessed to fuel southern regions, less attention is paid to both the energy challenges and energy innovation in northern regions.
What unique obstacles do different regions face?
How can they be addressed?
Where can the different regions learn from each other?
Issues like these are among the many questions to be explored when the 2015 Arctic Energy Summit got underway Monday in Fairbanks.
To find out more, Eye on the Arctic spoke to Nils Andreassen from the Institute of the North about the Arctic Energy Summit and the real questions we should be asking ourselves about the future of energy in the North. You can listen to the interview here.
The event is being held for the third time and brings together everyone from business, to experts, to local leaders from around the circumpolar world to discuss issues, challenges and best practises from around the North.
" I wish the headlines were more about northern peoples flipping on the switch and having their lights and their heat come on," says Nils Andreassen, executive director of the Institute of the North, the non-profit specializing in Alaska and the North that organizes the Arctic Energy Summit.
"In a lot of the Arctic, neither of those things are affordable, accessible nor using the best technology or renewable resources.
"In communities here in Alaska, people are having to choose between their water and sewer or having their house heated. Whole communities are struggling to pay for just basic infrastructure and I think that's the story."
Information gathered at the summit, including findings, research gaps and emerging technologies, will be sent to the Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group.
To follow the event online, use #arcticenergy or watch the livestream at www.ion.evomac.com.