{"id":1484,"date":"2024-03-15T02:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T02:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/?p=1484"},"modified":"2024-04-14T22:43:32","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T22:43:32","slug":"the-arctic-council-with-new-decisive-step-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcticwatch.info\/index.php\/2024\/03\/15\/the-arctic-council-with-new-decisive-step-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"The Arctic Council With New Decisive Step Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

All Arctic countries agree that the Arctic Council’s working groups can resume meetings in a virtual format. \u201cThis is critical in enabling the council to effectively respond to rapid climate change and other urgent issues,\u201d says Morten H\u00f8glund, who leads the council under Norway’s chairship.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can the Arctic Council’s work be done more efficiently in the current situation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This issue has recently been discussed by the council’s member states, in consultation with indigenous permanent participant organizations.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The parties have now reached a consensus: Official meetings in the working groups will gradually be reintroduced on digital platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This opens the way for more interaction and activity at the working group level, where the council\u2019s main work takes place. Half a year ago, the groups were able to resume their projects, but only via written procedure \u2013 a laborious way of working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting the joint commitment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I\u2019ve emphasized in the past, without functioning Working Groups, we don\u2019t have an Arctic Council,\u201d says Morten H\u00f8glund, Norway’s Arctic Ambassador and Chair of the Arctic Council\u2019s Senior Arctic Officials (SAOC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn May 2023 at the 13th meeting of the Arctic Council, all Arctic states and permanent participants reaffirmed their commitment to safeguard and strengthen the Arctic Council,” he points out and continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAllowing working groups to virtually meet and advance their work is critical in meeting that commitment and the responsibility the council has to play a leading role in addressing issues of emerging concern as it relates to environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Backdrop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum for cooperation between the region’s eight states, indigenous peoples, and other inhabitants in joint Arctic matters, particularly sustainable development and climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the council’s work was temporarily paused in March 2022<\/a> by Canada, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the USA. The council’s Russian chairship continued its program with participation from other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 In June 2022<\/a>, the seven western Arctic countries revitalized some project work within the Arctic Council without Russian participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Norway took over the chairship from Russia in May 2023<\/a>, and got to work on carving out future solutions for the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 In August 2023<\/a>, all the Arctic countries agreed that the working and expert groups could resume activities based on written procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Two weeks ago, Russia announced the suspension of payments to the Arctic Council until it resumes “full-fledged work.”  At the same time, the Norwegian chairship had recently sent out a proposal to all member states on more efficient working methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Productive dialogue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe decision to resume virtual working group meetings was the result of productive consultations with all Arctic states and permanent participants that have taken place over the last months,\u201d continues Norway’s top Arctic diplomat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As SAOC, H\u00f8glund will play an active role in the revitalization of meeting points between the working groups, such as providing guidance as the groups begin to plan schedules for project and plenary meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith just over one year left of the Norwegian chairship, I am very pleased that working groups can take more steps to advance their projects and initiatives for delivery at the end of our chairship. This is critical in enabling the council to effectively respond to rapid climate change and other urgent issues impacting the region and beyond,\u201d he emphasizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More in-depth about the new consensus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The resumption of official working group meetings will take place gradually over the next three to four months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The ability to meet virtually extends to all project-level teams and expert groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The council’s 38 observers, of which 13 are states, and external experts are invited to reengage in these meetings as relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Meetings on the Senior Arctic Official level will remain on pause until such time as consensus is reached by the Arctic states, in consultation with permanent participants, on further modalities for their resumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The importance of conversation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere simply is no replacing the connections and creativity that are generated in real-time interactions with subject matter experts. Engaging with our counterparts in real time is key to the short and long-term success of the Arctic Council,\u201d says Patrick Huber.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Patrick Huber, Chair of the Arctic Contaminants Action Program Working Group. (Photo: Private)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

He is Chair of the Arctic Contaminants Action Program Working Group (ACAP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrust, understanding and respect are the cornerstones on which we build our Arctic cooperation, and we need to strengthen those elements to ensure the viability of our work,\u201d Huber points out and continues:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs projects approach key milestones and approval of final products are prepared, Arctic Council working wroups will need to act with certainty and confidence, and they will want to ensure that the communities of Arctic are informed and engaged in a timely manner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arctic Council’s six working groups and expert group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Black Carbon and Methane Expert Group<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The voices of indigenous peoples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The importance of making progress in the circumpolar Arctic cooperation framework is also underlined by Sara Olsvig.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sara Olsvig, International Chair of Inuit Circumpolar Council. (Photo: The Wilson Center)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

She is International Chair of Inuit Circumpolar Council \u2013 one of the council’s permanent participants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Arctic Council is critical for Arctic cooperation and the permanent participation of Indigenous Peoples is what makes this body unique. The ability of the Arctic Council Working Groups to continue to effectively respond to the environmental, climatic and social development is of great importance to the Peoples of the Arctic,\u201d says Olsvig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cResuming virtual meetings of the Arctic Council Working Groups is a key step in maintaining and advancing the strong partnerships built over decades, as well as the full and effective participation of Arctic Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Arctic Council,\u201d she maintains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Permanent participants in the Arctic Council<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Six organizations representing Arctic indigenous peoples have status as permanent participants in the Arctic Council. They have full consultation rights in connection with the council\u2019s negotiations and decisions \u2013 as well as the opportunity to participate in all its meetings and activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The Sami Council (SC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Aleut International Association (AIA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Gwich’in Council International (GCI)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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