A Quick Guide to the Arctic Council

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©Arctic Council Secretariat, 2019

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Suggested citation Arctic Council, September 2019, A quick guide to the Arctic Council. September 2019. 29 pp.

Authors Arctic Council

Published by Arctic Council Secretariat

This document is available as an electronic document from the Arctic Council’s open access repository at the following link. oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/937

Cover photograph iStock / robcocquyt A Quick Guide to the Arctic Council

Photo: Arctic Council Secretariat/Linnea Nordström

1 This is the Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Who takes part? The Ottawa Declaration lists the following countries as Members of the Arctic Council: Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Nor- way, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States. In addition, six organizations represent- ing Arctic Indigenous peoples have status as Permanent Participants. The category of Permanent Participant was created to provide for active participa- tion and full consultation with the Arctic Indigenous peoples within the Coun- cil. They include: the Aleut International Association, the Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich’in Council International, the Inuit - Cir cumpolar Council, Russian As- sociation of Indigenous Peoples of the North and the Saami Council. Observer status in the Arctic Council is open to non-Arctic states, along with inter-governmental, inter-parliamentary, global, regional and non-governmental organizations that the Council determines can contribute to its work. Arctic Council Observers primarily contribute through their engagement in the Council at the level of Working Groups.

2 What does it do? The work of the Council is primarily carried out in six Working Groups.

• The Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) acts as a strength- ening and supporting mechanism to encourage national actions to reduce emissions and other releases of pollutants. • The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) monitors and assesses the Arctic environment, ecosystems and human popula- tions, and provides scientific advice to support governments as they tackle pollution and adverse effects of climate change. • The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group (CAFF) addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, working to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources. • The Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group (EPPR) works to protect the Arctic environment from the threat or impact of an accidental release of pollutants or radionuclides. • The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group is the focal point of the Arctic Council’s activities related to the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment. • The Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) works to ad- vance sustainable development in the Arctic and to improve the con- ditions of Arctic communities as a whole.

What are some of its accomplishments? The Arctic Council regularly produces comprehensive, cutting-edge environmental, ecological and social assessments through its Working Groups. The Council has also provided a forum for the negotiation of three im- portant legally binding agreements among the eight Arctic States: • the Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic (Nuuk 2011); • the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (Kiruna 2013); • the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Coopera- tion (Fairbanks 2017).

3 How does it work? Arctic Council assessments and recommendations are the result of analy- sis and efforts undertaken by the Working Groups. Decisions of the Arctic Council are taken by consensus among the eight Arctic Council States, with full consultation and involvement of the Permanent Participants.

The Chairmanship of the Arctic Council rotates every two years among the Arctic States. The first country to chair the Arctic Council was Canada (1996-1998), followed by the United States, Finland, Iceland, Russia, Nor- way, the Kingdom of Denmark, and Sweden. The second cycle of Chair- manships began in 2013. The current Chair is Iceland (2019-2021).

The standing Arctic Council Secretariat formally became operational in 2013 in Tromsø, Norway. It was established to provide administrative ca- pacity, institutional memory, enhanced communication and outreach and general support to the activities of the Arctic Council.

How is it organized? The Chair of the Arctic Council is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country holding the Chairmanship. At the end of a Chairmanship, minister-level representatives of the Arctic States meet to review the Council’s work and grant a mandate for the incoming Chairmanship. The Council’s daily operations are managed by Senior Arctic Officials appointed by the Arctic States, under the guidance of the Chair of the Senior- ArcticOf ficials. Senior Arctic Officials and Permanent Participants meet at least twice a year. Working Groups and Task Forces hold additional meetings.

What doesn’t it do? The Arctic Council is a forum; it has no programming budget. All projects or initiatives are sponsored by one or more Arctic States. Some projects also receive support from other entities. The Arctic Council does not and cannot implement or enforce its guidelines or recommendations. That responsibility belongs to individual Arctic State or international bodies.

The Arctic Council’s mandate, as articulated in the Ottawa Declaration, explicitly excludes military security.

4 Learn more

Arctic Council website www.arctic-council.org

The eight Arctic States bit.ly/ac-states

Indigenous Permanent Participant Organizations bit.ly/ac-pps

Observers bit.ly/ac-observers

The Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat www.arcticpeoples.com

Arctic Contaminants Action Programme acap.arctic-council.org

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme amap.no

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna caff.is

Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response eppr.org

Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment pame.is

Sustainable Development Working Group sdwg.org

5 Environment and Climate

Ever since its establishment, environmental protection has been at the core of the work of the Arctic Council. In the Council’s founding document, the Ottawa Declaration, the eight Arctic States affirmed their commitment to protect the Arctic environment and healthy ecosystems, to maintain Arctic biodiversity, to conserve and enable sustainable use of natural resources. As temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise at more than twice the global annual average, effects are felt both across the high latitudes and beyond – with environmental, economic and social implications. -Ac knowledging the scope of the issues, the Council’s Working Groups com- mit to working closely together on environmental matters such as the effects of climate change, pollution, green energy solutions, adaptation and resilience, and the protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of living resources.

Scan the QR code to get quick access to recent reports, key assessments and other resources related to environment and climate.

6 Photo: iStock Recent reports, key assessments and fact sheets

Climate Change and Adaptation Actions

Arctic Climate Change Update 2019 hdl.handle.net/11374/2353

Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic 2017 Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2105 Summary for Policy Makers: hdl.handle.net/11374/1931 Video: bit.ly/swipavideo Translations: Saami

Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic Bering/Chukchi/Beaufort Region Overview report: hdl.handle.net/11374/1941 Scientific basis: hdl.handle.net/11374/2112 Translations: Russian, Korean

Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic Baffin Bay/Davis Strait Region Overview report: hdl.handle.net/11374/1948 Scientific basis: hdl.handle.net/11374/2166 Translations: Danish, Greenlandic, Russian

Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic Barents Area Overview report: hdl.handle.net/11374/1960 Scientific basis: hdl.handle.net/11374/2078 Translations: Russian, Saami

7 Pollution and contamination

Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane Summary of Progress and Recommendations 2019 hdl.handle.net/11374/2411

Black Carbon Case Studies bit.ly/bc-casestudies

Reduction of Black Carbon from Diesel Sources in the Russian Arctic - Tundra Reindeer Farm Report: hdl.handle.net/11374/1961 Fact sheet: hdl.handle.net/11374/2041 Video: vimeo.com/351159730

Assessment of Potential Air Emissions of Dioxins/Furans, Particulate Matter, and Heavy Metals from Vorkuta Cement Plant when Using Conventional and Complementary Fuels hdl.handle.net/11374/1958

Circumpolar best practices; Policy and Financing Options for Black Carbon Emission Reductions from Diesel Source hdl.handle.net/11374/1953

Feasibility Study for Dioxin Mitigation and Other Environmental Pilot Measures at the Vorkuta Cement Plant in the Komi Republic hdl.handle.net/11374/1952

8 Black carbon and ozone as Arctic climate forcers 2015 hdl.handle.net/11374/1607

Biological Effects of Contaminants on Arctic Wildlife and Fish 2018 Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2172 Summary for Policy Makers: hdl.handle.net/11374/2352

Chemicals of Emerging Arctic Concern 2016 Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2115 Summary for Policy Makers: hdl.handle.net/11374/1947 Translations: Saami

Methane as an Arctic climate forcer 2015 hdl.handle.net/11374/1469

Best Waste Management Practices for Small and Remote Arctic Communities hdl.handle.net/11374/2387

9 Green energy solutions

Arctic Community Energy Planning and Implementation Toolkit 2019 hdl.handle.net/11374/2374

Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy arena.alaska.edu

Arctic Energy Summit Finland Final Report 2017 hdl.handle.net/11374/2299

Biodiversity

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013 Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/223 Summary for Policy Makers: hdl.handle.net/11374/224

Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2013-2021 hdl.handle.net/11374/390

The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative Workplan 2019-2023 hdl.handle.net/11374/2355

10 State of the Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Report Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2367 Summary for Policy Makers: bit.ly/freshwater-keyfindings

Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Arctic Mining hdl.handle.net/11374/2365

Biodiversity Monitoring Plans

Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program Strategic Plan: 2018-2021 hdl.handle.net/11374/2363

Arctic Coastal Biodiversity Monitoring Plan hdl.handle.net/11374/2356

Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Monitoring Plan hdl.handle.net/11374/218

Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Plan hdl.handle.net/11374/230

11 Resilience

Sustainable Management and Resilience of Arctic Wetlands bit.ly/caffwetlands

Arctic Resilience Action Framework 2017 – 2019 hdl.handle.net/11374/2376

Citizen Science

Circumpolar Local Environmental Observer Network hdl.handle.net/11374/2170

Educational materials

Life Linked to Ponds caff.is/education/life-linked-to-ponds Available in English, Finnish, French, Greenlandic, Icelandic, Russian, Saami

Life Linked to Spring caff.is/education/life-linked-to-spring Available in English, Finnish, French, Greenlandic, Icelandic, Russian, Saami

Life Linked to Tundra caff.is/education/life-linked-to-tundra Available in English, Finnish, French, Greenlandic, Icelandic, Russian, Saami

12 13 Photo: iStock The Seas

With its sea ice cover shrinking, the Arctic Ocean has taken centerstage in global discussions related to climate change and economic opportuni- ties. While new sea routes may bring prosperity to the region, increasing accessibility of the High North also bears risks for Arctic inhabitants and ecosystems. The Arctic States hold a responsibility to safeguard the fu- ture development of the region and to develop models for stewardship of the marine environment. This requires both a better understanding of the drivers and effects altering the Arctic marine environment and enhanced cooperation amongst the Arctic States, local inhabitants, external actors and international legal frameworks. The Council’s Working Groups contribute to these discussions with a substantial knowledge base on a wide range of marine topics, including marine litter, ocean acidification, oil spill response, search and rescue, and sustainable shipping.

Scan the QR code to get quick access to recent reports, key assessments and other resources related to the seas.

14 Photo: Hugi Ólafsson Recent reports, key assessments and fact sheets

Shipping

Arctic Ship Traffic Data Website and database: bit.ly/ArcticShipTraffic Video: youtu.be/MLOwVcr4Jr0

Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment 2009 hdl.handle.net/11374/54

Alternative fuels in the Arctic bit.ly/altFuelArctic

Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum Arcticshippingforum.is

Biodiversity

Arctic Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Plan hdl.handle.net/11374/203

State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/1945 Key findings: hdl.handle.net/11374/1955

Ocean Acidification

Arctic Ocean Acidification Assessment 2018 Full report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2171 Summary for Policy Makers: hdl.handle.net/11374/2351

15 Pollution and oil spill

Desktop Study on Marine Litter including Microplastics in the Arctic Report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2389 Video: youtu.be/gxZbCPlFpmA

Regional Waste Management Strategies for Arctic Shipping hdl.handle.net/11374/1932

Underwater Noise in the Arctic - A State of Knowledge Report hdl.handle.net/11374/2394

Oil Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response in Small Communities Community videos: vimeo.com/eppr

Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (MOSPA) 2018 Table-Top Exercise After Action Report hdl.handle.net/11374/2370

Legal Issues Related to the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (MOSPA) hdl.handle.net/11374/2373

Planning Guidance for MOSPA Exercises hdl.handle.net/11374/2372

16 Framework Plan For Cooperation On Prevention Of Oil Pollution From Petroleum And Maritime Activities In The Marine Areas Of The Arctic hdl.handle.net/11374/2371

ARCSAFE Summary Status Report hdl.handle.net/11374/2395

Marine management

Guidelines for Implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Management of Arctic Marine Ecosystems Report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2390 Video: youtu.be/19GQGFr0lTU

Large Marine Ecosystem factsheet series bit.ly/LMEfactsheets

Arctic Protected Areas Indicator Report 2017 hdl.handle.net/11374/1944

Arctic Marine Strategic Plan 2015-2025 hdl.handle.net/11374/413

17 Arctic People

Almost four million people live in the Arctic today. They include Indige- nous people, more recent arrivals, hunters and herders living on the land, and city dwellers. Many distinct Indigenous peoples are found only in the Arctic, where they continue traditional activities and adapt to the mod- ern world at the same time.

Environmental changes can affect Arctic inhabitants and their livelihoods in various ways. Northern communities are already facing challenges that result from the impacts of climate change, demonstrating the need for action to strengthen resilience and facilitate adaptation. To cater for their differing needs, the human dimension of the work of the Arctic Council covers a wide array of areas, from education and culture, to health, well- being, and sustainable development.

Scan the QR code to get quick access to recent reports, key assessments and other resources related to people in the Arctic.

18 Photo: Arctic Council Secretariat/Jesper Stig Andersen Recent reports, key assessments and fact sheets

Health

One Health - Operationalizing One Health in the Arctic hdl.handle.net/11374/1956

Human Health in the Arctic 2015 hdl.handle.net/11374/1703

Connectivity

Task Force on Improved Connectivity in the Arctic Report: Improving connectivity in the Arctic hdl.handle.net/11374/2369

Engagement

Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Marine Activities Report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2391 Database: memadatabase.is

Good Practices for Environmental Impact Assessment and Meaningful Engagement in the Arctic hdl.handle.net/11374/2377

19 Education and Youth

Including The North: A Comparative Study of the Policies on Inclusion and Equity in the Circumpolar North hdl.handle.net/11374/2380

Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity Conclusions hdl.handle.net/11374/2381

EALLU –Indigenous Youth, Food Knowledge & Arctic Change hdl.handle.net/11374/2169

Project CREATeS: Circumpolar Resilience, Engagement and Action Through Story Report: hdl.handle.net/11374/2385 Website: www.projectcreates.com

Arctic Youth Program caff.is/youth

Gender

Gender Equality in the Arctic Information sheet: hdl.handle.net/11374/2382 Website: arcticgenderequality.network

20 21 Photo: IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis Arctic Cooperation

Guided by the Ottawa Declaration, the Arctic Council has become the pre-eminent high-level forum of the Arctic region and turned the Arctic into an area of unique international cooperation. The eight Arctic States together with the six Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations have achieved mutual understanding and trust, addressed issues of common concern, strengthened co-operation, and influenced international action. This commitment is reflected in the joint statement and declarations is- sued by high-level representatives of the Arctic States and Permanent Participants at the biennial Ministerial meeting, as well as in threele- gally binding agreements that have been negotiated under the auspices of the Council. Moreover, the cooperation with Arctic Council Observers and other stakeholders is essential to tackle the interconnected effects of Arctic change.

Scan the QR code to get quick access to Ministerial statements and declarations, legally binding agreements and other documents.

22 Photo: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland/Kaisa Sirén Ministerial Statements and Declarations

The Rovaniemi Ministerial 2019

Rovaniemi Ministerial Statements oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/2418

Senior Arctic Officials’ Report to Ministers 2019 hdl.handle.net/11374/2354

Iceland’s Chairmanship program (2019-2021) bit.ly/IcelandicChairmanship

Ministrial Declarations

Fairbanks Declaration 2017 Salekhard Declaration 2006 hdl.handle.net/11374/1910 hdl.handle.net/11374/90

Iqaluit Declaration 2015 Reykjavik Declaration 2004 hdl.handle.net/11374/662 hdl.handle.net/11374/89

Kiruna Declaration 2013 Inari Declaration 2002 hdl.handle.net/11374/93 hdl.handle.net/11374/88

Vision for the Arctic 2013 Barrow Declaration 2000 hdl.handle.net/11374/287 hdl.handle.net/11374/87

Nuuk Declaration 2011 Iqaluit Declaration 1998 hdl.handle.net/11374/92 hdl.handle.net/11374/86

Tromsø Declaration 2009 Ottawa Declaration 1996 hdl.handle.net/11374/91 hdl.handle.net/11374/85

23 Legally binding agreements

Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation 2017 bit.ly/ac-sar-agreement

Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic 2013 bit.ly/ac-oil-agreement

Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic 2011 bit.ly/ac-science-agreement