Environment

The Arctic Council marks 25 years of cooperation, highlighting its role in binding agreements, Indigenous participation, and climate‑focused governance.

Arctic Council states, chaired by Canada, issued a statement at the 2013 Diplomatic Conference on the Minamata Convention, welcoming its adoption and urging rapid implementation to protect Arctic communities from mercury pollution.

Arctic Council states’ 2013 COP19 statement commits them to aggressive GHG reductions, short‑lived pollutant cuts, and adaptation, linking Arctic governance to global climate goals.

Patrick Huber, former EPA senior advisor, becomes ACAP Chair, aiming to expand contaminant‑reduction projects—like wind turbines and waste cleanups—in Arctic communities to enhance sustainability and local resilience.

Benjamin DeAngelo, NOAA’s climate program director, was appointed Chair of AMAP, underscoring a new focus on science‑policy linkages, transparent reporting, and indigenous participation in Arctic climate assessments.

Dr. Mia Rönkä has been appointed Chair of the Arctic Conservation of Flora and Fauna Working Group, outlining priorities for inclusive co‑creation, Indigenous collaboration, and a joint climate research project with AMAP.

The Arctic Council's first executive meeting under Russian chairmanship (29‑30 June) will focus on implementing the Reykjavik Declaration, the 2021‑2030 Strategic Plan, and four priority areas: Indigenous peoples, climate protection, socioeconomic development, and council

The International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the High Seas of the Central Arctic Ocean has entered into force, banning commercial fishing by its 10 signatories for 16 years while science gathers data on the region’s emerging ecosystem.

The Arctic Council’s PAME Working Group is launching additional GPS‑equipped plastic capsules to trace how North Sea and Baltic litter enters Arctic waters, highlighting transport routes and informing mitigation.

Norway has expanded its national park on Svalbard, converting former coal mining sites into protected land, bolstering Arctic conservation.

At the 12th Arctic Council Ministerial meeting, EGBCM announced that Arctic States are on track to cut black carbon emissions by 25‑33 % by 2025, though methane emissions still rise.

Russia has declared that eliminating nuclear waste dumped in the Arctic will be a top priority of its Arctic Council leadership, signalling a push for broader regional cooperation on hazardous waste cleanup.

Arctic Council ministers in Reykjavik signed the Reykjavik Declaration, adopted a first Strategic Plan for the next decade, and transferred the Chairmanship from Iceland to Russia, marking a milestone in Arctic governance.

In May 2021, Russia resumed chairmanship of the Arctic Council, focusing on sustainable development, Indigenous welfare, and climate‑change mitigation to strengthen Arctic cooperation.

The Arctic Council and IASC launched SAON in 2011 to create a pan‑Arctic observing system, promoting open data, Indigenous participation, and guiding long‑term monitoring through the AOS.

Arctic shipping traffic rose 25% between 2013 and 2019, raising environmental concerns and prompting Arctic Council coordination to safeguard marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

The Arctic Council’s Radiation Expert Group, formed in 2019, leads cross‑state and indigenous collaboration to assess radiological risks, conduct drills, and plan emergency response for nuclear‑related incidents in the Arctic.

The State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity report shows climate‑driven changes—phenological mismatches, southern species encroachment, and food‑security threats—that require coordinated monitoring and policy action.

Mercury emitted globally travels to the Arctic, accumulates in ecosystems and Indigenous diets, prompting science‑driven policy efforts and action projects to reduce emissions and protect Arctic health.

The Saami Council’s Kola Waste Project in Russia’s Murmansk region has removed 96 t of waste through community‑led clean‑ups supported by the Arctic Council, improving local ecosystems and protecting traditional livelihoods.

The OECD will launch a report on the economic benefits of reducing air pollution in Arctic Council states on April 28, 2021, with an online event co‑hosted by the Icelandic chairmanship.

The Arctic Council’s Icelandic Chairmanship released a sneak‑peek of a newly approved Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, outlining 59 strategic actions—especially for shipping—and setting an implementation roadmap for Arctic States.

The final Senior Arctic Officials meeting under Iceland’s chairmanship wrapped up in Reykjavik, reviewing 50+ deliverables and setting the stage for a May Ministerial with a new Russian chairmanship.

China has expressed interest in purchasing an airport in Finland’s Lapland to support flights for North Pole climate research, highlighting expanding foreign involvement in Arctic scientific infrastructure.

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation in Old Crow, Yukon, launched a solar farm that cuts 190,000 liters of diesel per year, reduces CO2 emissions by 680 tons, and boosts local energy sovereignty.