News

Arctic Council meeting focuses on biodiversity in the Arctic

At the meeting just concluded in Rovaniemi, Finland, the Arctic Council focused its discussions on Arctic biodiversity and received updates from all the Council’s subsidi...

Senior Arctic Officials gather for third meeting during Finland’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council

On 1-2 November 2018, the Arctic Council will gather in Rovaniemi, Finland for the third Senior Arctic Officials’ meeting held during the Chairmanship of Finland (2017-20...

Arctic Council meeting of Environment Ministers ends with talks about future cooperation

The Arctic Environment Ministers’ meeting held in Rovaniemi 11-12 October ended with discussions about cooperation in addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity a...

Arctic Environment Ministers' meeting: Exploring common solutions for the Arctic environment

The Finnish Chairmanship is organizing an Arctic Environment Ministers’ meeting (AEMM) in Rovaniemi, Finland, 11-12 October 2018. The meeting will gather the Ministers of...

Arctic Resilience Forum: Sharing best-practices for improving Arctic resilience

The Arctic Resilience Forum held in Rovaniemi, Finland, 10-11 September gathered around 100 Arctic experts, policymakers, and various key stakeholders. The purpose of the...

First-ever Arctic Council side event at UN's High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

In a panel held at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, several speakers highlighted the unique model of the Arctic Council in supportin...

Interview: Task Force on Improved Connectivity meets in Washington, DC

The Arctic Council's Task Force on Improved Connectivity in the Arctic met in Washington, DC on 16-17 May 2018, in a gathering that included many invited speakers from th...

Arctic Council addresses meteorological cooperation and connectivity during week of events in Finland

At the meeting just concluded in Levi, Finland, the Arctic Council addressed the major themes of meteorological cooperation and improvement of telecommunications in the r...

Second meeting of Senior Arctic Officials during Finnish Chairmanship

On 22-23 March 2018, the Arctic Council will gather in Levi, Finland for the second Senior Arctic Officials’ meeting held during the Chairmanship of Finland (2017-2019).

EPPR table-top exercise on oil spill response in the Arctic

A table-top exercise of the 2013 Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic will be run in Oulu, Finland, on 7 March 2018. T...

A look ahead: The Arctic Council in 2018

The year ahead of us is both daunting and full of opportunity, says SAO Chair Aleksi Härkönen.

Interview with René Söderman, Senior Arctic Official for Finland

With the advent of the Finnish Chairmanship in May of 2017, René Söderman assumed the role of Senior Arctic Official for Finland, while Aleksi Härkönen took on the role o...

Arctic Council meets in Finland, addresses pollution prevention and education

At the meeting just concluded in Oulu, Finland, the Arctic Council addressed overarching issues for the region like pollution prevention, education, and strategic focus. ...

Senior Arctic Officials gather for first meeting during Finland’s Arctic Council Chairmanship

On 25-26 October 2017, the Arctic Council will gather in Oulu, Finland for the first Senior Arctic Officials’ meeting held during the Chairmanship of Finland (2015-2017).

Interview: Renée Sauvé, Chair of PAME

"Finland is providing leadership on initiatives that clearly link to the stewardship of the Arctic marine environment, such as their efforts related to environmental impa...

Interview: Ambassador Aleksi Härkönen, SAO Chair

When the Arctic Council Chairmanship passed from the United States to Finland in May of 2017, Ambassador Aleksi Härkönen assumed the role of Chair of the Senior Arctic Of...

Interview: Pekka Shemeikka, Chair of SDWG

When the Arctic Council Chairmanship passed from the United States to Finland in May of 2017, the Arctic Council also welcomed new Chairs for several of the six Working G...

Arctic Council Ministers meet, sign binding agreement on science cooperation, pass Chairmanship from U.S. to Finland

At the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska, Ministers of the eight Arctic States and leaders from the six indigenous Permanent Participant organi...

ACAP workshop on CLEO Network beginning in Inari, Finland

Local observers can detect subtle changes in weather, landscapes and seascapes, and plant and animal communities. The Arctic Council is working to build a circumpolar net...

Interview: Hannu Halinen, departing SAO for Finland

Hannu Halinen, long-time Senior Arctic Official for Finland, spoke to the ACS shortly before passing his duties to his successor...