Arcticportal News

(Photo: the Arctic Council Secretariat) Carl Bildt hands over the Arctic Council gavel to Leona AglukkaqThe 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council took place yesterday in Kiruna, northern Sweden.

The forward-looking statement entitled 'Vision for the Arctic' was adopted at the meeting. The document outlines the Arctic states' and indigenous Permanent Participants' joint vision for the development of the region.

Arctic Council States also signed a new, legally-binding Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic which will substantially improve procedures for combatting oil spills in the Arctic.

A number of important reports were presented to the Ministers at the meeting.

During the meeting, ministers also signed the Kiruna Declaration, which sets out the work of the Council during the Canadian Chairmanship (2013-15).

"Canada is honoured to assume the Chairmanship of the Council," said Minister Leona Aglukkaq. "The theme for Canada's Chairmanship is Development for the People of the North."

During the Canadian Chairmanship, the Arctic Council program will include the establishment of a Circumpolar Business Forum to provide new opportunities for business to engage with the Council; continued work on oil pollution prevention; and action to address short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane.

Click here to dowload the Canada´s Chairmanship priorities.

(Photo: Anastasiya Ilina) The last shaman of Wrangler IslandToday, the 15th of May 2013, representatives of eight Arctic states have signed Kiruna Declaration. Ministers from all eight Arctic states, joined by the delegates of the six Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council have gathered in Kiruna, northern Sweden to conclude the Swedish chairmanship at the Arctic Council.

Declaration recognizes the central role of commerce in development of the Arctic and highlights the need for cooperation between Arctic communities to advance sustainable economic development of the region.

Document states the climate change to be the biggest environmental issue for the Arctic. It commits to strengthen efforts to diminish its effects on Arctic fragile environment.

Declaration establishes Task Force to develop an Arctic Council action plan or other arrangement on oil pollution prevention, and to present the outcomes of its work and any recommendations for further action at the next Ministerial meeting in 2015.

The Ministerial Meeting of the Swedish Chairmanship is being held 15 May 2013 in Stadshuset in Kiruna, Northern Sweden. This meeting marks the end of the Swedish Chairmanship and the beginning of the Canadian Chairmanship.

 Click here to download the Kiruna Declaration and other documents from the AC Ministerial Meeting.

(Photo: Getty Images) GreenlandGreenlanders decided not to participate in Arctic Council Ministerial meeting that takes place in Kiruna.

Sweden, which chairs the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting, did not allow representatives of Greenland to participate in the event on the same terms as Denmark. Before the meeting, Greenland received its own representatives in one of the main Arctic Council´s Committee, alongside with the Danish members.

Greenland became the Danish colony in 1775 but in 1979 it was announced to be the autonomous country within the kingdom of Denmark with the parliament and local control over health care and social issues.

After the long struggle for independence, Greenlanders made a choice to become self – governing autonomy with the full control over police force, coast guard and courts with Greenlandic as the official language.

Financial and international affairs are still kept in Danish hands, however according to the Self – Government Act Greenland is to be recognized as autonomy and Greenlanders are classified as a separate group of people.

Participation in the Arctic Council is one of the Greenlanders 'biggest priorities. Until their status within the organization is clarified, Greenland´s membership in the Arctic Council will be put on hold.

(Photo: CAFF) Results of work of over 250 scientists being discussed at the Arctic Council ministerialToday, 14th of May 2013, Ministers gathered in northern Sweden welcomed the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment, prepered by CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna) one´s of the Arctic Council six working groups.

The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment is expected to be the best available science informed source on traditional ecological knowledge and status and trends of Arctic biodiversity. It also contains policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation.

Tomorrow, on 15 May 2013 the Arctic Council will hold its biennial Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna in the north of Sweden. Approximately 300 people – ministers, delegates from the eight Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States), representatives of indigenous peoples, scientists and observers – will gather in to mark the end of the two-year Swedish chairmanship and the beginning of the Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council is a high level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. The scientific work of the Arctic Council is carried out in six expert working groups.

(Photo: Getty Images)

IASC´s southern hemisphere partner, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), is embarking on a unique and exciting project to identify the most important and compelling questions in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science over the next two decades.

A collective, community-based vision of the 100 highest priority scientific questions will be developed to assist in strategic planning; influence future directions in Antarctic research; highlight opportunities for collaborations and synergies; identify future critical infrastructure, logistical, and technological needs; and inform international decisions about investments in the Antarctic scientific enterprise.

For this project to be successful organizers need the opinions and insights on what are or will be THE scientific questions that once answered, will measurably improve our understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and its connections to the Earth and climate systems and beyond.

Outputs will include a high-profile, summary paper published in a leading journal and various other documents and products that will be widely disseminated to the community. Public responses will be the "raw material' to identify the most compelling and timely questions for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science in the future.

This project will only be successful if the communities and individuals choose to participate!

Please encourage your colleagues to submit questions as well. The first round solicitation will close on 15 June 2013.

For more detailed information and to submit your questions, please visit SCAR Website.