A Defining Moment for Arctic Cooperation

It has been a demanding, yet rewarding experience to revive the work of the Council. Our guiding goal as Chair has been to steer safely through challenging times, ensuring that the Council can continue its vital work. Ensuring that the Council could continue to address the most important issues facing the Arctic. And ensuring that we continued as the Council we were set up to be, with all the eight Arctic States and six Permanent Participants.

Our Chairship took place during the warmest years ever recorded on the planet Earth. Unprecedented heatwaves, weather events and wildfires spread, even across the Arctic. We began 2025 by breaking more climate records, with this January being the warmest month on record. That serves as a stark reminder of the collective responsibility the Arctic States and Permanent Participants have to lead in responding to environmental challenges. Challenges that not only impact the millions of people who call the Arctic home but also create ripple effects throughout the planet.

When Norway took on the Arctic Council Chairship, we knew that it would not be business as usual. With that in mind, we chose to focus our Chairship program on four key areas that have long been at the heart of the Council’s work: Oceans, Climate and Environment, Sustainable Economic Development and People in the North, with Indigenous Peoples and youth as cross-cutting priorities.

While official Arctic Council meetings on the diplomatic level remain on pause, Norway has worked to foster meaningful cooperation by hosting key events and providing platforms for collaboration across the Arctic and beyond. We hosted international meetings on ecosystem-based management in the Arctic Ocean, on polar shipping, and on Arctic youth and emergency management in the Arctic. We addressed the increasing prevalence and severity of Arctic fires by launching a Wildland Fire Initiative to strengthen cooperation and knowledge sharing. We also elevated the urgent issue of cryosphere changes to the global stage at COP29 together with partners across the world.

When we entered our Chairship, we believed that that the Arctic Council was the most important intergovernmental forum for circumpolar cooperation. Two years on, we believe that it still is. The Arctic Council remains the leading body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Arctic.

Perhaps that is the most important accomplishments of the Norwegian Chairship; that the Arctic Council is still standing, despite the storms we have been through. One important contribution to that was when we achieved consensus that Working Groups could hold virtual meetings. That enabled them to advance projects and initiatives with contributions from all eight Arctic States, six Permanent Participants and the Council’s valuable Observers.

The Arctic Council has a long history as a forum which generates knowledge, exchange information and provides science-based advice. It is imperative that it continues to operate in this role. I believe it is the most efficient respond to rapid changes and urgent issues impacting the Arctic region and beyond.

I am proud of what the Council has accomplished. The advancements we made have been possible through the strong commitment of the Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups, and Observers. This commitment required resilience, adaptability and a steadfast focus on unprecedented collaboration.

As we now pass the Arctic Council Chairship to the Kingdom of Denmark, I can assure them of Norway’s strong support.

Let us continue to foster the spirit of cooperation that lies at the core of the Arctic Council’s mandate.