Fig. 3

Distinguishing statements of Factor 3 and across other factors. This radar chart illustrates the distinguishing statements for Factor 3, highlighting its unique perspectives relative to other factors. The chart maps five key statements: I3: Arctic cities should adopt a ‘glocal’ approach, blending global and local solutions to address unique challenges (pale blue line), E4: Arctic cities should embrace a circular economy (recycling and reusing resources to reduce waste) (red line), G3: Green energy solutions are essential for the future sustainability of Arctic cities (yellow line), E11: Economic growth in Arctic cities should be driven by sustainable resource use and responsible extraction (green line), and E3: Arctic cities should develop more diversified economies to reduce reliance on a single sector (carbon blue). The contrasting peaks and troughs in the chart demonstrate how Factor 3 diverges from other factors, reinforcing its distinct perspective within the study. Compared to other factors, Factor 3 places greater emphasis on the ‘glocal’ approach (I3, Q-sort: 2), indicating a stronger preference for blending global and local solutions. In contrast, while all other factors rank E4 (circular economy), G3 (green energy), E11 (sustainable resource use), and E3 (economic diversification) positively, Factor 3 stands out with negative Q-sorts (−1, −1, −1, and −2, respectively). This suggests that Factor 3 is less aligned with sustainability-driven economic strategies and diversification efforts, instead prioritizing localized solutions over broader environmental and economic transitions.