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Contribution short abstract

Wind energy expansion in Finnmark, Norway, creates conflict with Sámi rights and local livelihoods. This study explores youth visions for a sustainable future, guided by the Sámi concept of birgejupmi (interconnectedness), amidst climate change and rapid energy development.

Contribution long abstract

This contribution explores the tensions arising from EU Green Deal climate change mitigation measures and young peoples’s futures in Finnmark, the northernmost county of Norway. Finnmark is also set on the land that is home to the Indigenous Sámi communities whose culture, way of living, and identity are deeply interconnected with the land, sea, and coastscapes. Labelled as a strategic frontier for European energy strategies, Finnmark is increasingly targeted by large-scale wind park developments, generating conflict between climate goals, Indigenous rights, and local visions of sustainable living. Through a workshop with local youth in the municipality of Unjárga/Nesseby, we created a space of reflection on sustainable livelihoods and inclusive environmental decision-making amidst these rapid changes. Western Finnmark faces a high youth emigration rate, prompting local municipalities to seek strategies for retaining and attracting young residents. This research, guided by the Northern Sámi concept of birgejupmi – interconnectedness and self-sufficiency – navigates participants' visions for a “good life” and explores how birgejupmi informs their understanding of a sustainable future. This contribution seeks to contribute to decolonial approaches to knowledge production and highlight the crucial role of young voices in shaping just and sustainable Arctic futures.