23 October 2014: The Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs) and Heads of Delegation of Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council met to assess overall progress toward the priorities set under the Canadian Chairmanship. SAO Chair, Vincent Rigby, noted that the productive meeting would yield a “rich set of recommendations” for the Arctic Council Ministers to consider. Notably, SAOs approved a report outlining concrete recommendations for reducing woodstove black carbon emissions.

The meeting, held 22-23 October 2014 in Yellowknife, Canada, gave the Arctic Council’s six working groups and four task forces a chance to report progress in preparation for the next Arctic Council Ministerial meeting, to be held in 24-25 April 2015 in Iqaluit, Canada. The Council will showcase its achievements under Canada’s Chairmanship at an event in Ottawa, Canada prior to the Ministerial meeting.

Canada’s Chairmanship has focused on the theme of ‘Development for the People of the North,’ supported by the priority initiatives of promoting mental wellness; incorporating traditional and local knowledge into the work of the Council; ensuring responsible economic development in the Arctic, including through the establishment of the Arctic Economic Council; and developing actions on black carbon and methane.

Specific topics addressed during the meeting included: oil pollution prevention and preparedness; biodiversity assessment and conservation of Arctic migratory birds; short- lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and actions to reduce black carbon and methane emissions impacting the Arctic; the Arctic Marine Tourism Project and ways to promote safe Arctic shipping; human development issues, including promoting mental wellness and climate change adaptation; enhancing scientific cooperation in the Arctic; and the US’s priorities for its upcoming chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

The meeting was the third held under Canada’s Chairmanship. Events organized around the meeting included a workshop with Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations convened by the SAO Chair to brainstorm ways to increase their capacity to contribute to the Council, and an outreach event in N’dilo, Canada organized by the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) to highlight the importance of incorporating traditional and local knowledge into the Council’s work. [Arctic Council Press Release, 23 October 2014] [Arctic Council Website] [Arctic Council Press Release, 20 October 2014] [Arctic Council Event Page] [Canada’s Arctic Council Chairmanship webpage]