Coverage

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.

Arctic Council Task Force members discuss the growing importance of preventing oil spills amid expanding Arctic oil production and shipping, highlighting ecological, economic, and indigenous community impacts.

The Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials met in Yellowknife to review work on shipping, climate adaptation, and sustainable development, including an outreach event in Dettah.

Arctic Council officials have agreed to establish the Arctic Economic Council, a body aimed at fostering sustainable development and integrating indigenous businesses into Arctic governance.

The Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials met in Yellowknife, Canada, approved the Arctic Economic Council, endorsed oil safety guidelines, and advanced several climate and cultural initiatives.

IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu attended a Senior Arctic Officials meeting in Yellowknife, Canada, and presented on the upcoming mandatory Polar Code to enhance safety and environmental protection for Arctic shipping.

The Arctic Council’s Science Cooperation Task Force met in Helsinki, deciding to negotiate a memorandum of understanding to strengthen scientific collaboration among the eight Arctic states ahead of a ministerial meeting in Canada.

AMAP released a report summarizing its 2013 assessment of Arctic ocean acidification, noting rapid CO₂ buildup and its impacts on marine ecosystems, fisheries, and indigenous resources.

PAME Working Group released guidelines, approved by Senior Arctic Officials, to improve safety culture in Arctic offshore oil and gas, citing Deepwater Horizon lessons and comparing Canada, Greenland, Norway, and the U.S.

The Arctic Council Task Force for Action on Black Carbon and Methane, co‑chaired by Canada and Sweden, convened in Helsinki to strengthen collaborative efforts for reducing emissions and protecting Arctic health.

The Arctic Council's CAFF and national mapping agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a harmonized Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure, integrating climate and biodiversity data to support research and decision‑making.

The Arctic Council’s Task Force on Arctic Marine Oil Pollution Prevention met in Ottawa to advance its Action Plan, engaging all Arctic states and key stakeholders to develop safety measures against oil spills.

Canada’s new Chair of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials, Vincent Rigby, will steer the council’s agenda—focusing on emissions, mental wellness, traditional knowledge and the Arctic Economic Council—toward the 2015 Ministerial meeting.

The Arctic Economic Council’s inaugural September 2‑3 meeting in Iqaluit, Nunavut, will bring together Arctic states and Indigenous business representatives to advance sustainable development in the region.

Canada will host the 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Iqaluit, Nunavut on April 24‑25, where ministers will set future objectives and hand over chairmanship to the United States.

Arctic Council announces new Senior Arctic Officials: Vladimir V. Barbin for Russia and Anna Karin Eneström for Sweden, reflecting recent appointments in Arctic governance.

Norway and Russia co‑chairs the Arctic Council’s Task Force on Oil Pollution Prevention, sharing strict regulations, joint plans, and annual drills to safeguard the Barents Sea’s marine environment while supporting sustainable Arctic development.

Sweden’s new Senior Arctic Official, Anna‑Karin Eneström, highlighted her 25‑year foreign‑policy background and her intent to strengthen the Arctic Council, prioritizing environmental, human, and sustainable development issues.

Senior Arctic Officials met in Yellowknife to review Council priorities and updates on climate, biodiversity, and indigenous engagement ahead of Canada’s 2015 Ministerial Meeting.

The 4th meeting of the Scientific Cooperation Task Force in Tromsø, Norway, reviewed progress toward a memorandum of understanding to streamline data sharing, infrastructure access, and scientist mobility in the Arctic.

As Arctic sea ice retreats, longer open-water seasons and new shipping routes boost vessel activity, raising the risk of environmental impacts on coastal marine biodiversity near key marine mammal migration corridors.

Arctic Council’s Task Force for Action on Black Carbon and Methane finalized a Framework for enhanced action at its final meeting, aiming to cut emissions that threaten Arctic ice and health.

Finland SAO Hannu Halinen reflects on his role in establishing the Arctic Council Secretariat, signing binding agreements, and future research leadership at IIASA, underscoring Finland’s influence in Arctic governance.

An interview with IMO Secretary‑General Koji Sekimizu explores how the Polar Code and enhanced Arctic infrastructure can enable safer, greener shipping amid expanding routes and environmental sensitivities.