Lantern Lectures 2025: Why Is Svalbard Crying? Climate Change and its Human Impact in Svalbard

By Ine-Therese Pedersen

This event was recorded live at Svalbard Museum on 13 November 2025 as part of the Lantern Lectures series.

The climate in Svalbard is changing at an alarming pace — temperatures are rising, glaciers are retreating, and rainfall is replacing snow. In this talk, Ine-Therese Pedersen, state meteorologist and long-time resident of Svalbard, reflects on how these shifts are affecting daily life in the Arctic and what it means to live in a landscape that is visibly transforming.

Combining professional insight with personal perspective, Ine-Therese speaks not only as a scientist but as a mother, dog owner, and hobby photographer who has witnessed Svalbard’s changing seasons and rhythms over more than a decade.

About the Speaker

Ine-Therese Pedersen is a state meteorologist based in Longyearbyen. She has lived in Svalbard for a total of twelve years, including the past seven continuously. Outside of her professional work, she is the mother of three children and the owner of a husky, often capturing the landscape through photography.

About Lantern Lectures

This event is part of the Lantern Lectures series, a collaboration between Artica Svalbard and Svalbard Museum. Inspired by the 19th-century magic lantern lectures, the series invites local voices and visiting experts to share stories, images, and reflections on life in the Arctic.

Held during the dark season, these talks create space for community, conversation, and deeper understanding of the rapid changes shaping the region today.