Coverage

At Kiruna, Arctic Council states and Indigenous Peoples adopted a Vision for the Arctic and signed a binding marine oil‑pollution agreement, reviewing reports on biodiversity, marine environment, and acidification.

Canada took over chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2013, with Leona Aglukkaq leading a theme of "development for the people of the North" that emphasizes responsible resource use, safe shipping, and sustainable communities.

During the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting, Arctic Ministers signed key policy documents including the Kiruna Declaration, Vision for the Arctic, and an agreement on marine oil pollution preparedness, alongside approving scientific reports.

Canadian Chairmanship team led by Patrick Borbey established working routines with the new Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø and celebrated its opening, while setting the stage for the first Senior Arctic Officials’ Meeting in Whitehorse.

Patrick Borbey, chair of the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials, outlines hopes and priorities for the Canadian Chairmanship (2013‑2015).

Arctic Resilience Interim Report documents rapid sea ice melt, snow decline, permafrost loss, warns of thresholds that could irreversibly alter ecosystems, and stresses natural, social, and knowledge resilience for adaptation.

On 19 June, Swedish and Norwegian royals were briefed in Tromsø on Arctic climate change, council work and ocean acidification, and the launch of a Standing Arctic Council Secretariat.

AMAP released the first comprehensive assessment of Arctic Ocean acidification, noting rapid CO2 uptake, ecosystem vulnerability, and potential effects on fisheries and indigenous resources.

Arctic Council ministers approved the 24‑recommendation Arctic Ocean Review, prioritizing Indigenous participation, ecosystem‑based management, and marine science to guide responsible stewardship of Arctic marine waters.

The Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) has removed nearly 7,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides from old storage in 13 Russian regions, highlighting ongoing efforts to safeguard Arctic health and environment.

In June 2013, the Arctic Council’s PAME convened three Reykjavík workshops to advance integrated environmental assessment of Arctic LMEs, link AMSA initiatives with shipping impacts, and define the new AMSP's scope, vision, and actions for the next decade.

Canada’s 2013‑2015 Arctic Council chairmanship, led by Minister Aglukkaq, prioritized responsible resource development, safe shipping, indigenous knowledge integration, and climate action.

Arctic Council is coordinating scientific assessments and action plans, including expert groups and a task force, to reduce short‑lived climate pollutants like methane, black carbon, and ozone, aiming to protect Arctic communities and curb global warming.

The Task Force for Action on Black Carbon and Methane met in Whitehorse, Yukon, focusing on the health and climate benefits of cutting black carbon and methane emissions, with co‑chairs from Canada and Sweden outlining the Arctic Council’s role in leading global efforts.

The 2013 IPCC report confirms substantial Arctic warming and, with input from Arctic Council scientists, informs the Council’s climate‑change research and adaptation efforts for northern communities.

The CAFF Working Group's guide shows how rapid Arctic sea‑ice loss is reshaping marine species, disrupting Inuit subsistence, and calls for adaptive management.

Arctic Council senior officials convened in Whitehorse, Yukon, to approve projects on contaminants, mental wellness, and climate adaptation, and released a report on sea‑ice biodiversity impacts.

ACAP released a final report on managing Russia’s 40,000‑tonne obsolete pesticide stockpile, recommending improved storage and urgent destruction to protect Arctic ecosystems.

A November 2019 Arctic Council workshop in Tromsø explored a circumpolar marine risk assessment covering shipping, tourism, and hydrocarbon production to better protect Arctic waters.

The 2013 Arctic Report Card shows sustained warming, greening of tundra, declining sea ice, and shifting wildlife and marine species patterns, underscoring ongoing Arctic environmental change.

In December 2013, the Arctic Council Task Force met in Helsinki and agreed on the name Arctic Economic Council, advancing its scope, mandate, and consensus among Arctic States, observers, and Permanent Participants.

The Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic (AACA) is a flagship Arctic Council project that integrates cross‑border scientific and indigenous knowledge to inform adaptation decisions in the Barents, Baffin Bay‑Davis Strait, and Beaufort‑Chukchi Sea regions.

The Arctic Council established a new Task Force on Black Carbon & Methane, co‑chaired by Sweden and Canada, to develop actions for cutting short‑lived climate forcers, drawing on scientific work and partner organizations.

The Arctic Economic Council, formed under the Kiruna Declaration, brings Canada, Finland, Iceland, and Russia together to promote sustainable business development and deeper circumpolar cooperation.

The Arctic Council’s Task Force on Marine Oil Pollution Prevention, co‑chaired by Russia and Norway, is developing an action plan to strengthen oil spill prevention across the eight Arctic states.