News

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...

Interview with Bryndís Kjartansdóttir, Senior Arctic Official for Iceland

The Arctic Council recently welcomed Bryndís Kjartansdóttir as the new Senior Arctic Official for Iceland. In this interview, get to know her background and what she sees...

Interview with Nina Vaaja, director of the Arctic Council Secretariat

In late 2017, the Arctic Council's Senior Arctic Officials selected Nina Vaaja as the new director of the Arctic Council Secretariat (ACS) in Tromsø, Norway. Having serve...

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...

Interview with Björn Lyrvall, Senior Arctic Official for Sweden

The Arctic Council recently welcomed Ambassador Björn Lyrvall as the new Senior Arctic Official for Sweden. In this interview, get to know Ambassador Lyrvall's background...

Arctic Council at COP23: Climate change in the Arctic and its global impacts

The Arctic Council will host "The global implications of a rapidly-changing Arctic" at COP23 in Bonn. Monday, 6 November, 13:15-14:45 in the Bonn Zone, room 11..

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: Mikael Hildén, Chair of Expert Group on black carbon and methane

"The work to reduce black carbon emissions in particular provides unambiguous win-win opportunities."

New Observer: Switzerland

"Nowadays Swiss scientists are among the world leaders in the field of polar research. Excellence in altitude research thus goes hand in hand with polar research."

New Observer: West Nordic Council

"Being granted Observer status to the Arctic Council is an important step for the West Nordic Council to further strengthen its already substantial Arctic activities in a...

Anna Degteva to be new Executive Secretary of the Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat

The Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat is proud to announce the hiring of a new Executive Secretary. Anna Degteva, who belongs to the Veps indigenous people of Russia, has b...

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: Jens Peter Holst-Andersen, Chair of EPPR

"Basically, EPPR works on saving lives and protecting the environment. Both subjects should inspire everyone."

Interview: Ulrik Westman, Chair of ACAP

Pursuing improved environmental performance and reducing contaminants in the Arctic requires endurance. Some of our projects have been active for over a decade, and I bel...

New Observer: Oceana

"Oceana welcomes the opportunity to apply lessons learned around the world about sound ecosystem management and ocean conservation practices to protect one of the last pr...

New Observer: ICES

"ICES is keen to work with the Arctic Council to improve scientific understanding in the Arctic..."

New Observer: National Geographic Society

"Being an observer at the Arctic Council is essential for the National Geographic Society to be more effective in our Arctic mission."