9 March 2015
Senior Arctic Officials Discuss Development for the People of the North
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The Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs) and Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council met in Whitehorse, Canada, to receive progress updates from the Council's working groups and task forces, and to approve projects for delivery to the Council's next Ministerial meeting.

Arctic Council5 March 2015: The Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs) and Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council met in Whitehorse, Canada, to hear progress updates from the Council’s working groups and task forces, and to approve projects for delivery to the Council’s next Ministerial meeting.

The meeting, organized from 2-5 March 2015, was the fourth and last meeting of the SAOs and Permanent Participant organizations during Canada’s chairmanship, which has prioritized actions to improve the lives of Arctic residents under the theme ‘Development for the People of the North.’ The SAO meeting was preceded by the meeting of the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) of the Arctic Council, which took place at the same venue, from 28 February to 1 March.

Participants heard updates on related priority initiatives, including: ensuring responsible economic development in the Arctic; promoting mental wellness; incorporating traditional and local knowledge into the work of the Council; and developing actions to prevent marine oil pollution and emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).

Projects approved for presentation to the Ministerial covered, inter alia: sustainable development; biodiversity and marine environment protection; emergency preparedness and response; and pollutants in the Arctic.

The meeting included, on 3 March, a public outreach event at Yukon College, Whitehorse, that featured the Council’s work to address SLCPs in the Arctic and to develop an online climate change adaptation portal.

The Arctic Council Ministerial meeting will be held from 24-25 April 2015 in Iqaluit, Canada. [Arctic Council Press Release] [Arctic Council Meeting Webpage] [IISD RS Story on Arctic Council October 2014 Meeting]


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