We Went to Greenland When the Noise Had Quieted Down Dear reader. International media have been quiet about Greenland ever since the journalists, who were led in droves by Donald Trump, went back home. We went to Greenland to gauge the mood after the noise had quieted down.
“The Arctic Council is Irreplaceable” Reykjavik (High North News): “Projects are being discussed, new activities are being initiated. The Arctic Council is still alive and very much kicking,” says Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council.
Calls for Arctic Policy Action on Underwater Noise A new Arctic Council report from the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment working group predicts a significant increase in underwater noise from shipping in the Arctic Ocean by 2030. This poses a dramatic risk to whales and other noise-sensitive species.
Gwich'in Council Reproaches USA for Undermining Cooperation on Arctic Challenges The Gwich'in Council International, representing 9,000 Gwich'in in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska, reproaches the US for undermining Arctic cooperation. "The Arctic is facing immense challenges which require international cooperation and collaboration, not confrontation," says Edward Alexander, Co-Chair and Head of Delegation.
The Kingdom of Denmark's Upcoming Arctic Council Chairship: Indigenous and Arctic People at the Top of the Agenda The Kingdom of Denmark takes over the chairship of the Arctic Council next month. "We will work diligently to keep the council vibrant and resilient, first and foremost for the Indigenous Peoples and inhabitants of the Arctic," states the realm, with Greenland at the forefront.
ICC Welcomes Strong Emphasis on Indigenous Peoples in Arctic Council Chairship Programme The Inuit Circumpolar Council supports the strong and important aspirations of the incoming Chairship to “keep the Arctic Council vibrant and resilient, first and foremost for the Indigenous Peoples, and for the Arctic to remain a region of stability and constructive cooperation”.
Looking Back on Norway's Chairship of The Arctic Council: "You Have to Be Respectful to All Members" Bodø (High North News): Chair of the Arctic Council, Morten Høglund, reflects on the two years that have passed and Norway taking over the chairship from a Russia at war. "It was intense, like being inside a tumble dryer. But very rewarding". And the most important task: Keeping the council alive as Denmark takes over as chair in May.
"There Is No Such Thing as The Better Colonizer" "We do not wish to debate which state is better or worse to live in or is a better or worse colonizer. Rather we want to debate how we improve Inuit lives, livelihoods, wellbeing, and self-determination across all our regions. A peaceful Arctic through mutually respectful cooperation", the Inuit Circumpolar Council says in a statement.
Arctic Emergency Management Conference: Responding to Emerging Challenges and Risks The Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council and Nord university will host the highly anticipated Arctic Emergency Management Conference in Bodø, in March of 2025.
Arctic Emergency Management Conference: Responding to Emerging Challenges and Risks The Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council and Nord university will host the highly anticipated Arctic Emergency Management Conference in Bodø, in March of 2025.
Arctic Emergency Management Conference: Responding to Emerging Challenges and Risks The Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council and Nord university will host the highly anticipated Arctic Emergency Management Conference in Bodø, in March of 2025.
Norway's Arctic Council Chairship Praised by Iceland Bodø (High North News): “It was up to Norway to take on the huge challenge and responsibility of chairing the Arctic Council after Russia,” Iceland's Arctic ambassador, Pétur Ásgeirsson, said, praising Norway's navigation through the muddy waters of Russia's war in Ukraine while chairing the Arctic Council.
The Arctic Is Burning – And It Is Changing The World Anchorage (High North News): The Arctic is rapidly warming, and wildland fires are sweeping across the region with devastating consequences.
The Arctic Is Burning – And It Is Changing The World Anchorage (High North News): The Arctic is rapidly warming, and wildland fires are sweeping across the region with devastating consequences.
“Without Russia, the Arctic Council Will Not Survive” Tromsø (High North News): Can the Arctic Council survive Russia's war in Ukraine? Not without Russia, says Arctic Council expert Svein Vigeland Rottem. "Russia is, and has always been, a constructive member of the Council," assures Norway's Senior Arctic Official Solveig Rossebø.
Urges the Arctic Council to Show Leadership in Reducing Emissions From Shipping In an open letter to the Norwegian Chair of the Arctic Council, the environmental foundation Bellona and the Clean Arctic Alliance urge the council to update its targets to reduce emissions of black carbon.
"The Need for Cooperation is Stronger Than Ever" "The Arctic, and our future, has become the subject of increased attention during the past decade, including by non Arctic states and organizations. Almost everyone now has an Arctic strategy, or policy. Except for a Pan Arctic policy statement coming from the people who actually live here in the Arctic", writes Paul Fuhs, Northern Forum Goodwill Ambassador.
Arctic Council After Russia’s Handover: “We Are Still Here” Reykjavik (High North News): “I am here to tell you that the Arctic Council is not dead,” said the Arctic Council Chair Morten Høglund to a cheering congregation at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik – revealing that the takeover from Russia was not certain until the day before.
Four US Senators Met Arctic Stakeholders in Northern Norway Four US Senators travelled to the Norwegian Arctic to meet with Arctic stakeholders. “There is a growing interest in the Arctic from policy makers around the world", says Director of the Arctic Economic Council Mads Qvist Frederiksen.
The Arctic Council Resumes Some Activities in Mid-June After more than a year of standstill, the Arctic Council starts its meetings again in mid-June.
"Russia Will Stay in The Arctic Council as Long as it Serves Our Interests" As Russia transferred the Chair of the Arctic Council to Norway, Russia's Arctic Official Nikolay Korchunov states that the responsibility for the future of a restored council lies in Norway's hands.
All Arctic States Behind Joint Arctic Council Statement Today’s meeting between the Russian Chair of the Arctic Council and Arctic Officials from the seven western Arctic nations marked the conclusion of the Russian Chairship and the beginning of the Norwegian one. A seemingly unanimous Council issued a joint statement after the meeting.
Norway MFA: "Russia Has Neither Been Expelled nor Withdrawn From the Arctic Council" Bodø (High North News): As Norway prepares for the takeover of the Arctic Council from Russia in just three weeks, the opportunities and challenges for cooperation within the Council was debated among the Arctic Ambassadors to Norway and the EU.
Arctic Indigenous Leaders: We Did Not Shut Down Anchorage (High North News): Although the Arctic Council's work was put on hold due to the Russian war in Ukraine, the indigenous working groups continued. Now they express concern about the gaps in environmental data from Russia and the welfare of their Russian families.
What Effects Has the Ukraine war Had on the Arctic Council? Op-Ed: On Tuesday, March 28, Norway announced the priorities for its Chairship of the Arctic Council (AC) that is about to start in May. With the transition from Russia to Norway at the helm of the AC on the horizon, it is important to ask the question – what effects has the Ukraine war had on the AC to date?
Security Issues Have Taken Over the Arctic Agenda, says Swedish and Danish Arctic Ambassadors Anchorage (High North News): The Danish and Swedish Arctic Ambassadors are fully behind the Norwegian agenda for the upcoming Arctic Council chairship and says it is time to get back to dealing with the climate crisis.
Here Are Norway's Priorities For the Upcoming Arctic Council Chairship Norway is set to take over the Arctic Council chairship from Russia in May. "The most important outcome of our time as chair, will be that we make sure the Arctic Council survives," says Morten Høglund, Norway's Senior Arctic Official.
Russia Amends Arctic Policy Prioritizing ‘National Interest’ and Removing Cooperation Within Arctic Council Announced by the Kremlin Tuesday, Russia revised its Arctic policy removing mentions of the Arctic Council, stressing the need to prioritize Russian Arctic interests, and striving for greater self-reliance for its Arctic industrial projects.
Cooperation with Russia in the Arctic is Virtually Impossible Says US Official Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine has ended decades of cooperation and collaboration in the Arctic, a US State Department official stated at a high-level event on the region. The US aims to resume projects in the Arctic Council that do not involve Russia and specifically emphasized working closely with Norway going forward.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
Arctic Council Chairmanship: “Norway Knows How to Do It” Tromsø, Northern Norway:Arctic experts trust Norway to maneuver the transfer of the Arctic Council Chairmanship from Russia based on Norway's long-lasting relationship with the country. “Norway has been balancing and protecting the cooperation with Russia for many years while pushing back Russian aggression", says American professor Evan Bloom.
China: "Will Not Acknowledge Arctic Council Without Russia" Special Envoy to the Arctic for China, Feng Gao, says China will not support Norway's chairmanship of the Arctic Council if Russia is still banned.
New US Arctic Strategy Foreshadows Increasing Hurdles for Cooperation in a More Complex Region The new US Arctic strategy suggests that addressing the adverse impacts from climate change and maintaining international cooperation despite increasing strategic competition vis-à-vis Russia and China will be key challenges in the region over the next decade.
Arctic Council Without Russia: A Spearhead for Democracy and Freedom of Expression? Commentary: The Arctic 7. We might s well learn the name right now. The cooperation between eight Arctic states has been reduced to seven. The Arctic Council is history after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What remains is the question of what the new forum can and should do.
Russian Chair of the Arctic Council: “The Council’s Work Should Be Resumed As Soon As Possible” Russia’s approach to Arctic cooperation can also be “adjusted” should Finland and Sweden join NATO, says Russian top diplomat at the Arctic Council. Mild Russian criticism of Finnish and Swedish NATO applications, researchers argue.
USA’s Arctic Coordinator: “We Do Not Want to Change the Structure or Membership of the Arctic Council” “Creating an alternative structure to the Arctic Council is not on our agenda. We believe the Council holds its greatest value as a circumpolar forum including all the eight Arctic states and binding together the people who live throughout the entire region”, says James P. DeHart, US Coordinator for the Arctic Region.
International cooperation in Arctic Science: Norway to co-host the next Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM)?
Arctic Council Paused: The Search for A Future for Arctic Cooperation Continues “We are focused on making sure that what we do now will not create obstacles to our later returning to normalcy”, Norway’s Arctic Ambassador Morten Høglund says about the pause in Arctic cooperation.
Hard Security Focus May Once Again Come to Dominate the Arctic, Researcher Fears Arctic cooperation may still survive the Ukraine crisis, however, it can nevertheless be overshadowed by the emphasis on military security, which ruled the ground during the Cold War, Finnish Professor Timo Koivurova points out.
