Regional Organizations and Activities

Arctic Council

• Objectives
• Membership
• Activities
• Environment Canada's Involvement

Objectives

Inaugurated on September 19, 1996, in Ottawa, the Arctic Council is an organization founded on the principles of circumpolar cooperation, coordination and interaction to address the issues of sustainable development, including environmental protection, of common concern to Arctic States and northerners.

Membership

Members are Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. In addition, four international organizations representing Indigenous Peoples hold Permanent Participants status within the Council: the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council, the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North and the Aleut International Association. The Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council provides for additional Permanent Participants. An Indigenous Peoples Secretariat in Denmark coordinates the work of the Permanent Participants. Observer status is open to non-Arctic States, intergovernmental and interparliamentary organizations and NGOs.

Activities

The Council meets at least twice a year at the level of Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs), and at ministerial level biennially. The host country which chairs the Council rotates every two years among the eight member States.

The Council's mandate is to improve the economic, social and cultural well-being of the northern peoples. To this end, the Council has developed a Sustainable Development Program. Under the direction of the Senior Arctic Officials representing each member State, an interim task force has been reviewing sustainable development project proposals for future implementation and cooperative action.

There are four working groups now coordinated by the Council:

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programs (AMAP) monitors and assesses the effects of pollutants on the Arctic environment and peoples of the Arctic, especially indigenous peoples; and reports on the state of the Arctic environment and gives scientific advice to ministers. The AMAP research and monitoring has played a significant role in developing the rationale for more effective controls on contaminants which have particular implications for the Arctic environment and its people. This research was used to develop two legally binding agreements on POPs and heavy metals, which were signed in June 1998 under the UN ECE Convention on LRTAP. AMAP's work is also being used to support the negotiations for a global agreement on POPs under UNEP.

The Working Group on Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)'s aims are to enhance the conservation of species, habitat and ecosystems; integrate sustainable use into conservation work; and integrate Indigenous Peoples and their traditional knowledge into that work. CAFF is drafting an Arctic strategy relating to the goals of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. CAFF has also prepared a Strategic Plan for the Conservation of Arctic Biological Diversity which will be endorsed by the Arctic Council Ministers.

The Working Group on Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) provides a framework for the Arctic countries to cooperate in responding to environmental emergencies; and reviews existing arrangements and recommends improved systems. The Working Group on Protection of Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)'s objectives are to address policy and non-emergency response measures that protect the marine environment from land and sea-based activities; and coordinate action programs and guidelines that complement existing international arrangements.

Environment Canada's Involvement

The lead departments are DFAIT and DIAND. Environment Canada provides advice on environmental issues to the Canadian delegation. The Department has also supported the preparation for the first Arctic Council Ministerial meeting and the development of a substantive agenda with a focus on sustainable development.

http://www.arctic-council.org/index.html