The Arctic Council New 2013 Declaration…

During the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting held in Kiruna, Sweden, the Arctic Ministers signed on the 15th of May 2013 the so called Kiruna Declaration.  

Today, the Arctic Council  is made up of the eight Arctic nations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Iceland and the United States of America. As you know with the Arctic ice melting, the Great North region’s abundant supplies of  gas, oil and minerals have become newly accessible, as have shortened shipping routes (ex: The Northeast Passage…) and open water for commercial fishing, setting off a global competition for economic opportunities far beyond the nations that border the Arctic. And the interest in the Arctic is becoming hugely important for several Asian countries as well…

The Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council has welcomed on the 15th of May 2013 China, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India as new Observer States… All have sought economic opportunities in the region and viewed participation in the Arctic Council as a means of influencing the decisions of its permanent members. 

View here the Arctic Council Kiruna signed Declaration dated the 15th of May 2013 >>  We invite you to read too the below official Arctic Council’s Press Release with approved points. 

“Press Release of the Arctic Council dated the 15th of May 2013 : …

Ministers from the eight Arctic states and representatives of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples met today in Kiruna at the conclusion of Sweden’s two-year Chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

The forward-looking statement entitled ‘Vision for the Arctic’ was adopted at the meeting. The document outlines the Arctic states’ and indigenous Permanent Participants’ joint vision for the development of the region. Arctic Council States also signed a new, legally-binding Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic which will substantially improve procedures for combatting oil spills in the Arctic.

A number of important reports were presented to the Ministers at the meeting:

• The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment produced by the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna group (CAFF) presents the status and trends in Arctic biodiversity based on best available science informed by traditional ecological knowledge, and includes policy recommendations for Arctic biodiversity conservation.  

• The Arctic Ocean Review coordinated by the Arctic Council’s working group on Protection of the Marine Environment (PAME) analyzes the global and regional instruments and measures that govern the Arctic marine environment, and provides policy recommendations for Arctic states to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment.  

• The Arctic Ocean Acidification assessment produced by the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) working group is the first major scientific study of the impacts that acidification of the Arctic Ocean may have on Arctic marine ecosystems, and the northern communities and indigenous peoples who depend on them.

A decision was made on seven observer applications.  

During the meeting, ministers also signed the Kiruna Declaration, which sets out the work of the Council during the Canadian Chairmanship (2013-15).

“Canada is honoured to assume the Chairmanship of the Council,” said Minister Leona Aglukkaq. “The theme for Canada’s Chairmanship is Development for the People of the North.”

During the Canadian Chairmanship, the Arctic Council program will include the establishment of a Circumpolar Business Forum to provide new opportunities for business to engage with the Council; continued work on oil pollution prevention; and action to address short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane… further info under the official website of the Arctic Council >> … ”  

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