ARCTIC COUNCIL

2022 

Ensuring the protection and sustainability in the Arctic 

Project Title: The Creation of the P.E.A.C.E. Task Force (Partnering to Ensure Arctic Collaboration and Enhancement)  

Lead Country/Project Leaders: Canada 

Overview: In the spirit of cooperation and in the interest of all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups, and Observers, this proposal intends to create a new working task force that would work to ensure the continuation of the preservation and stability of the environmental future of the Arctic.  Noting that the effects of the war in Ukraine has caused a ripple effect across the globe, it is imperative that vital environmental research continues even through the ongoing global tensions.  International uproar and financial sanctions over the unprovoked invasion in Ukraine put an immediate stop to any scientific collaboration with Russian researchers, mainly because half of all environmental research in the Arctic is through collaboration with Russia.  As the conflict progresses, experts worry that eroding political cooperation among Arctic nations could see environmentally-harmful Russian activities in the region go unchecked—further worsening the effects of climate change.  

Objective:

1. To develop a task force that would continue global cooperation, amity, and promote a sustainable and green Arctic
2. The development of the P.E.A.C.E. Task Force would work equally with all Arctic Nations, Permanent Participants, Working Groups, and Observers to continue monitoring the environmental impacts in the Arctic and ensuring that nations are not exploiting Arctic resources, especially since there is a critical need for additional oil, gas, coal, and other natural resources globally 
3. To work with various Arctic Nations to study other Arctic landscapes 
4. To safely monitor melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, and massive wildfires currently impacting the Arctic 
5. The P.E.A.C.E. Task Force will work to help assume responsibility that Russian scientists have left, specifically in tracking methane emissions from warming landscapes 
6. To promote the development of remote-sensing technologies that will help continue essential international environmental measures. 

ARCTIC COUNCIL

2022

Expanding Arctic Research In Greenland

Project title: The Arctic Climate Project

Lead Arctic States/ Project Leaders: Kingdom of Denmark

Overview: Noting the significant impact of climate change upon Arctic communities, the Kingdom of Denmark proposes a research project based in Greenland to expand global knowledge regarding ice sheets across the Arctic. Ice sheets throughout Greenland are extremely difficult to access and require innovative technology. The cooperation of Arctic States in the organization and funding of this project is imperative The utilization of information from the scientific community as well as cultural knowledge from Indigenous groups and leaders, is essential to the comprehensive understanding of the Arctic climate. By consolidating disparate data sets and indigenous knowledge, the Arctic community will develop a unified model of the Arctic capable of producing predictions of Arctic climate models. 

Objective:

1. To develop a committee of scientific researchers, Indigenous experts and Working Groups to carry out the mission of the project
2. To dispatch members of research project to study ice sheets in Greenland, utilizing innovative technology with the intent of collecting necessary data
3. To highlight cooperation and collaboration between the scientific community and Indigenous Groups
4. To create a unified model of the Arctic climate through the combination of disparate data sets
5. To ensure collected data is accessible to communities throughout the Arctic.

ARCTIC COUNCIL

Sustainable Development Working Group

2022

Arctic Indigenous Education Proposal

Project title: Gathering Statistical Data on Arctic Indigenous Education

Lead Arctic States/ Project Leaders: Canada, Norway 

Additional Parties: Saami Council, UArctic

Overview:

The SDWG proposes additional research and gathering of data regarding education in circumpolar Indigenous communities, resulting in the determination of topics that lack proper funding and support. Highlighting areas and communities in need will better allow the Arctic Council to provide any needed assistance and will allow the Arctic States to further understand and fulfill the educational needs of indigenous communities. Additionally, the gathered data will allow educational institutions to supplement and improve areas of weakness in indigenous educational programs, thus improving efficiency and reducing barriers. The partnership of Arctic states, Permanent Participants, and Indigenous groups with the goal of aggregating educational data in indigenous areas will strengthen the overall sustainability of Arctic pedagogy. This proposal aims to remedy and supplement the lack of statistical data regarding education in Arctic Indigenous communities.

Objectives:

1. To form a committee focused on the development of educational resources in Indigenous Arctic communities
2. To collaborate with Indigenous groups across the Arctic region in evaluating the best practices and measuring criteria in the sphere of statistical data collection 
3. To gather statistical data regarding primary, intermediate, and secondary education in Indigenous Arctic regions over a five-year time period
1. To assess the success of the project after completion with the possibility of renewal aimed to ensure current data
4. To encourage the exchange of information with all involved parties on a regular basis by creating a comprehensive database comprising gathered data 
1. To share gathered data with international allies, emphasizing the exchange of indigenous Arctic values and cultural values with non-Arctic communities
5. To emphasize the importance of cooperation with Indigenous Groups
6. To allow for the incorporation of traditional indigenous education by gaining a thorough understanding of resources needed
7. To increase the efficiency and integrity of indigenous education in Arctic nations on the primary, intermediate, and secondary levels
1. To encourage the employment of indigenous individuals and educators throughout Arctic communities with the intention of spreading and preserving intangible cultural heritage
8. To reduce the barriers limiting the level of educational advocacy educated by Arctic Governments, indigenous communities, and educational authorities. 

Helpful Links:

• https://arctichealth.org/media/pubs/295966/Indigenous-peoples-and-education-in-the-Arctic-region.pdf (published 2017)

• https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf (article 14 specifically)

• https://ich.unesco.org/en/what-is-intangible-heritage-00003 

ARCTIC COUNCIL

2022 

Stabilizing and Defending the Northern Sea Route 

Project Title: Standing in Unity through Actions in the Arctic  

Lead Country/Project Leaders: The United States, Finland, and Sweden 

Overview: 

Noting the recent and unprovoked attack of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, seeing how the Russian Federation used its military forces to launch a malevolent war that has destabilized the global order and economy, and understanding that the recent bid by Finland and Sweden to enter NATO, (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) has caused further tensions between the West and Russia, the United States, Finland and Sweden propose obstructing the Northern Sea Route from usage by the Russian Federation. Russia has continuously attempted to militarize the Arctic and stake ambitious territorial claims in the Arctic, including monopolizing the Northern Sea Route for their personal shipping route between Europe and Asia. As a warming climate is opening up the Arctic for shipping, fishing, drilling and mining, it is imperative that Russia is denied access to the Northern Sea Route, mainly over fears that the route will be used to transport weapons, oil, and gas to China or other allies of Russia, undermining the numerous sanctions currently imposed on Russia by all seven other members of the Arctic Council and other nations.   

Objective:

1. To establish a strict agreement that the Russian Federation will not use the Northern Sea Route to transport oil, gas, or weapons to foreign nations
2. To stand in unity to the sanctions imposed by foreign nations, including the other seven Arctic Council nations, to hinder Russia from profiting from activity in and around the Arctic and obstruct Russia from using the Northern Sea Route as a bypass to several of the sanctions the nation is currently facing 
1. This is especially important as Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev, recently underlined that better transport corridors to markets in Asia are needed as western markets close, stating that Russia’s path towards the East goes through the Arctic 
3. To stall the progress of Russia’s construction of additional icebreakers and LNG powered icebreakers that would expand Russian infrastructure and strengthen its economy  
4. To ensure that blocking Russia from shipping routes in the Northern Sea Route will strengthen the sanctions against Russia and continue to weaken the Russian economy 
1.  According to Chekunkov, shipping on the Northern Sea Route will by year 2035 add as much as 35 trillion rubles to Russian GDP. The growth is to be driven be exports of oil, natural gas, and coal.   

ARCTIC COUNCIL

2022

Arctic Tourism

Project Title: Arctic Environmental Protection Initiative

Lead Country/Project Leaders: Norway, Sweden

Overview: Taking in to account the decline in air, water, and sound pollution, noting the flourishing of wildlife and vegetation, and highlighting the potential of numerous scientific research projects, all due to the recent anthropause and decrease of Arctic tourism, Norway and Sweden propose the restriction of Arctic tourism. The presence of humans in Arctic habitats thoroughly disturbs the natural processes taking place. Arctic Tourism accounts for a high influx of foot-traffic throughout circumpolar ecosystems, directly harming the natural habitat. The decrease of CO2 emissions produced by air, marine, and ground transportation due to the global pandemic allowed scientists to further understand the extent of the human impact upon Arctic ecosystems. These areas benefitted from the reduction of human foot traffic. The effect human impact poses to the Arctic environment threatens to undermine the significant work of Arctic States to preserve the ecosystem. 

Objective: 

1. To establish an agreement to restrict levels of tourism in Arctic States with the intention of preserving Arctic ecosystems
2. To establish an agreement on the restriction of air, marine, and ground traffic connected with tourism in the Arctic 
1. Particular focus given to policy surrounding ultra-polluting heavy fuel used by cruise ships and other modes of transport
3. To work with the scientific community to develop a further understanding of human impact upon the environment
4. To encourage the development and exchange of research surrounding sustainable transportation in Arctic regions.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/science/pandemic-nature-anthropause.html

https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220527-at-the-limit-norway-s-bid-for-sustainable-arctic-tourism

ARCTIC COUNCIL

2022 

        Arctic Cooperation & Integrity 

Project Title: Maintaining Arctic Order 

Lead Country/Project Leaders: The Russian Federation  

Overview: The Russian Federation is dedicated to continuing its Arctic mission, regardless of the other members of the Arctic Council excluding Russia from their many projects.  Russia has always maintained a peaceful and cooperative stance with all members of the Arctic Council, and continues to be committed to military, scientific, and research projects involving the Arctic States, Permanent Participants, and Working Groups.  As stated previously, any decisions the Arctic Council makes without input from the Russian Federation will not be recognized globally and will permanently be deprived of legitimacy until Russia has been properly consulted and included. All other actions taken without the involvement and discussion of the Russian Federation violates the principle of consensus that this intergovernmental forum is bounded by according to its governing documents.    

 Objective:

1. To ensure that all meetings, actions, talks, etc., will involve the Russian Federation 
2. To uphold that the Arctic Council is an informal forum operating on consensus, not a membership organization, and therefore the Russian Federation cannot be expelled from it
3. To have the guarantee that all current and future work on projects will have Russian input and all those without, will be deemed illegitimate
4. All Arctic Council projects must continue reporting to all SAOs (Senior Arctic Official) including the Russian Federation’s
5. To maintain the spirit of peace, cooperation, and integrity held by all the Arctic States 
6. To comprehend that the Russian Federation is committed and loyal to the founding principles of the Arctic Council, and maintains its friendly and gracious attitude to all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, and Working Groups.