21 September 2015
Four Arctic Council Working Groups Address Cross-Cutting Issues at “Historic” Joint Meetings
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Four of the six Arctic Council Working Groups met in parallel from 14-18 September 2015, in Tromsø, Norway.

According to the Arctic Council Secretariat, the meeting was unprecedented, allowing the four Working Groups to meet in a joint session mid-week to discuss cross-cutting issues.

Arctic State and indigenous Permanent Participant organization delegates to the Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP), Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Groups were joined by accredited intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and non-Arctic State observers for the meetings.

Arctic Council18 September 2015: Four of the six Arctic Council Working Groups met in parallel from 14-18 September 2015, in Tromsø, Norway. According to the Arctic Council Secretariat, the meeting was unprecedented, allowing the four Working Groups to meet in a joint session mid-week to discuss cross-cutting issues. Arctic State and indigenous Permanent Participant organization delegates to the Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP), Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Groups were joined by accredited intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and non-Arctic State observers for the meetings.

Throughout the week of meetings, the Secretariat featured the work and projects of the Working Groups, such as AMAP’s ‘Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic’ (AACA). AACA involves over 100 researchers representing more than 10 countries that are considering, in an integrated way, the interactions of the myriad drivers of change in the Arctic. Their work is intended to better inform decision makers as they deal with climate change and other environmental stressors. AACA is preparing to present its results to the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in spring of 2017.

AMAP is also bringing together various stakeholders to create a long-term, pan-Arctic observation and data-sharing system. Called ‘Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks’ (SAON), the project is focused on coordinating the Arctic observation activities of all Arctic states, several Permanent Participant organizations, a number of non-Arctic states, any interested Arctic Council Working Groups, and international organizations and initiatives.

CAFF’s highlighted project, ‘Actions for Biodiversity 2013-2021: Implementing the Recommendations of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA),’ is a plan of action, approved at the Arctic Council Ministerial in 2015, for the ABA’s 17 recommendations. While CAFF will be responsible for carrying out some of the actions, some activities are cross-cutting and will be led by other Arctic Council Working Groups and subsidiary bodies. Still, others will depend on the leadership of national authorities, stakeholders and international organizations.

In addition, CAFF is executing the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) under the theme, ‘Protecting Arctic Lifestyles and Peoples through Migratory Bird Conservation.’ With many species of migratory birds threatened by overharvest and habitat alteration, CAFF is working with Arctic and non-Arctic countries alike to enhance conservation efforts along the birds’ migratory routes.

PAME is also working to carry out recommendations for improving sustainability in the Arctic. The 2009 Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA) Report offered 17 recommendations based on an analysis of ships in the Arctic and their impacts on humans and the marine environment. PAME’s 2015 Progress Report on the Implementation of the AMSA Report Recommendations measures efforts, especially cooperative initiatives among Arctic States, against markers provided by the 2009 report. PAME dedicated a full day of its meeting to the AMSA Recommendations, which guide the work of all its expert groups.

David Balton, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAO), US, offered welcoming remarks at the joint session. The US will serve as chair of the Arctic Council from 2015-2017. [ACAP Website] [AMAP Website] [CAFF Website] [PAME Website] [Arctic Council Press Release, 9 September 2015] [Arctic Council Press Release, 14 September 2015] [Arctic Council Press Release, 15 September 2015] [Arctic Council Press Release, 16 September 2015] [Arctic Council Press Release, 17 September 2015] [Arctic Council Press Release, 18 September 2015]

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