Impacts of Global Warming on Finland’s Arctic Environment: Paintings by Young Artists

Global warming affects the Arctic area four times faster than other parts of the world. This article shows how students living in the Arctic region—in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland—visualize the future of the North. The assignment took place in December 2022. The article shows 24 paintings by student teachers at the University of Lapland. The students searched for information about climate change, chose an artistic approach to the theme of their reading, and created a painting of how they envision the area to look in 2073. They also included an explanation. Most of the artwork dealt with problems caused by melting of the glaciers or changing weather conditions. These issues cause people and animals to suffer in numerous ways. Small group discussions were held on the topic so students could share their thoughts. Most of the students were worried about the effects of global warming, but some were very anxious. Most of the students had made some changes in their lifestyle, but many felt that individuals cannot solve such a worldwide problem.