Arctic Council

In September 1989, the Government of Finland started the Arctic Council. In Rovaniemi, Finland, the Arctic states met to talk about how they could work together to protect the Arctic ecosystem. As a result of the initiative, several technical and scientific papers were written. These papers led the path to the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy, released in June 1991. This document explains how to protect the natural ecology of the Arctic.

The Arctic Council 

The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic. The Ottawa Declaration was signed on September 19, 1996, in Ottawa, Canada. This partnership established the Arctic Council, making it easier for the Arctic States to coordinate and collaborate.

The Arctic Circle focuses on the following:

• Both the weather and the environment change
• Biodiversity
• Oceans
• People who have always lived in the Arctic
• People who are members of the Arctic Council

The Arctic Council constitutes eight countries, each with its government. The following countries are part of the Arctic Council:

• Canada
• Greenland
• Iceland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Finland
• Russia
• The United States.

Six different groups that are important to the native people of the Arctic are considered permanent participants. This category was made so that indigenous people could take part and be represented. It includes:

• International Association of Aleut
• The Arctic Athabaskan Council of Canada’s Gwich’in Indians.
• The Inuit Council of the Circumpolar Area.
• Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples from the North
• The Council of Saami

Arctic Council: Working Committees

There are six working committees under the Arctic Council:

• Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP): The ACAP is a way to help and support national efforts to cut down on pollution from emissions and other sources.
• Arctic Environment Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP): Monitoring Arctic ecosystems and the people who live there is a big part of the AMAP. It also gives scientific advice to governments about how to deal with pollution and the bad effects of global warming.
• Action Plan for the Protection of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF): The goal of the CAFF is to protect Arctic biodiversity and make sure that future generations will be able to use the region’s natural resources.
• The Working Group on Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (EPPR)
• Protecting the marine environment of the Arctic (PAME): The PAME Working Group is an effort by the Arctic Council to protect the Arctic maritime environment and use it responsibly.
• Working Group for Sustainable Development (SDWG): The SDWG works to support sustainable development in the Arctic and make everyone’s lives better there.

Arctic Council: Observers

The Arctic Council welcomes observers from all over the world and region, including states that are not in diplomatic relations with the Arctic States or in coordination and interaction among the Arctic states. The observer country is welcome to attend council meetings. Observers can speak and talk about topics. They cannot contribute more money to a project than the Arctic States. Visitors may submit proposals via an Arctic State participant. The Arctic Council has given observer status to 12 countries and 9 intergovernmental forums and interparliamentary bodies, and 11 non-government organisations.

What Is India’s Role in the Arctic Council?

During the Kiruna Ministerial Meeting on May 15, 2013, India was given the right to be an observer. India had to agree to the following rules to be an observer at the Arctic Council:

• Respect the right of the intergovernmental forum in the Arctic to exist on its own.
• To recognise that the United Nations and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are the legal basis and framework for running the Arctic.
• To show respect for the people who live there and their customs and traditions.
• Maintain respect for the native inhabitants of the area and their traditions and customs.
• Provide coordination to the Arctic Council.

Conclusion

India has agreed to follow UNCLOS rules for the Arctic. The UNCLOS has a significant effect on the continental shelf, sea lanes, and ocean resources. India can’t claim the land in the Arctic. In contrast, China has bought the property in Russia and Canada, and it has moved quickly to set itself up.

When the Arctic Council was first set up, protecting the environment as well as coordination and interaction among the Arctic states was its main goal. Now, however, business interests have taken precedence over that goal. India and other growing countries must make the Arctic a top priority in the battle against climate change and global warming.