As Chair, the Kingdom of Denmark will work diligently to keep the Arctic Council vibrant and resilient, first and foremost for the Indigenous Peoples and inhabitants of the Arctic so that the Arctic remains a region of stability and constructive cooperation. An overall ambition is to have an inclusive Chairship and to bring the work of the Arctic Council close to the Peoples and citizens living in the region who must have an impact on the activities in the region, particularly on how sustainable development is interpreted and advanced. Recognizing that Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives are essential to understanding and managing changes in the Arctic, strong integration of Indigenous Knowledge alongside scientific insights in the work of the Arctic Council is a priority.
© Udenrigsministeriet / Kristoffer Jonsson
© Amy Hansen / Government of the Faroe Islands
5 priority topics during the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship:
· Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the Arctic
· Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions
· Oceans
· Climate change in the Arctic
· Biodiversity
Read the full Chairship program here
Interest in Arctic sustainable development, regardless of the interpretation of the concept, has been a major area for growth in the Council’s activities. The Chairship will continue to focus on the human dimension of the Arctic Council with a particular focus on strengthening the participation of Indigenous Peoples and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge.
People living in the Arctic have a natural and particular interest in activities occurring in the Arctic and how sustainable economic development is advanced in a balanced manner with respect for different Arctic ways of life. The Chairship will dedicate efforts and attention towards sustainable economic development, with a goal of ensuring that initiatives in this field are being led by the Peoples of the Arctic for the benefit of all Arctic inhabitants with a particular focus on Indigenous Peoples.
The Arctic is predominantly covered by oceans. The Arctic seas are of immense importance for the people in the Arctic and in particular Indigenous Peoples and their communities who depend on the health of the sea for their livelihoods and way of life. Ongoing warming and the reduction of sea ice call upon us to step up monitoring developments and to identify the drivers of change thereby enhancing predictability and effective management of the changing marine environment.
Climate change in the Arctic is happening at an unprecedented rate with the estimated average temperature increase now three times higher than the global average. As a result, the Arctic inhabitants are among the first to experience the profound impacts of climate change firsthand. Climate change significantly impacts Indigenous Peoples and their communities in the Arctic, affecting their environment, livelihoods, cultural practices, and overall well-being. Our youth will inherit the state of our planet. This places a crucial responsibility on all generations past and present. Arctic climate change affects all spheres of work being undertaken by the Arctic Council with huge cross-cutting consequences for Arctic biodiversity, ecosystems and societies. The Chairship will highlight climate change trends and address the impacts of climate change on sustainable development in the Arctic.
Biodiversity has been a key priority for the Arctic Council since its establishment. The Chairship will continue this commitment in line with the Arctic Council Strategic Plan 2021-2030’s 2nd goal: We will emphasize collaboration across the Arctic Region to monitor and assess the status and trends regarding Arctic biodiversity and ecosystems enabling us to continue to detect and predict changes and provide the best available scientific data and Indigenous Knowledge for governance.
9-13 June 2025 - UN Ocean Conference, Nice, France
The Chairship will have a side-event.
16-17 June 2025 - Chairship meeting with Permanent Participants and Working/Expert Groups
The Chairship is hosting a first meeting with the Arctic Council's Permanent Participants and subsidiary bodies
26-27 June 2025 - EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples' Dialogue, Kittilä, Finland
The Chairship will be present.
4 August 2025 - Open Ship: The One Ocean Expedition, Nuuk, Greenland
The one Ocean Expedition ship is in Nuuk from 29 July to 5 August. The Chairship will host an open ship event on 4 August.
30 July - 1 August 2025 - Arctic Encounter, Anchorage, Alaska
The Chairship will be present at the Arctic Encounter.