Arctic Council events at COP26

2 November

Global Arctic Day

10:00-18:00 GMT - Pavilion of the Russian Federation

The Russian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council hosted two sessions during the day: one focussing on youth engagement during the Chairmanship and one outlining the general Chairmanship program. During the Global Arctic Day, the Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Ambassador Nikolay Korchunov, addressed the audience with a video statment and shared the COP26 Statement by the Russian Chairmanship - watch it below.

3 November

Arctic climate and health implications of short-lived climate forcers

13:00-14:30 GMT - Cryosphere Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by AMAP and ACAP

Short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) impact both the climate and air quality, including significant implications for human health. Immediate reductions in emissions of SLCFs can provide near-term climate benefits while also promoting cleaner air. AMAP and ACAP presented their most recent work as well as discussed policy implications during this COP26 session at the Cryosphere Pavilion.

The Arctic – the fastest-warming region on Earth – new science findings from AMAP

18:00-19:15 GMT - Cryosphere Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by AMAP

New observations show that the Arctic is now warming three times faster than the planet. Climate change impacts on Arctic communities, ecosystems, and species, especially when associated with extreme events, are considerable and accelerating. (Re-)watch the session to learn about the observational basis of Arctic climate change and calls to action to reduce the worst consequences of climate change in the Arctic and beyond.

4 November

Resilience & management of permafrost wetlands

16:00-17:00 GMT - Cryosphere Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by CAFF

Wetlands and peatlands cover large areas in the Arctic permafrost region, and are globally important as long-term carbon sinks, as wildlife habitats and as migration pathways. At broad scales, human emission reductions is the only way to prevent widespread permafrost thaw, but at the landscape scale, effective management of wetlands can contribute significantly to climate adaptation and mitigation and conservation of biodiversity. In May 2021, The Resilience & Management of Arctic Wetlands project delivered a suite of Key Findings and Policy Recommendations to the Foreign Ministers of the Arctic States. This session presented and discussed these findings, including Indigenous perspectives.

5 November

Climate change impacts on Sámi reindeer herding pastures

12:40 GMT - Nordic Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by Saami Council and AMAP

This event provided information on the Nordic Council of Ministers funded project CITE-Climate Impacts on Terrestrial Environments, a pilot study to demonstrate co-production of a project plan between Sámi reindeer herders and terrestrial/climate researchers to document climate-related changes on reindeer pasturelands in Fennoscandinan Sápmi.

Wetland/Peatland conservation, restoration, and management: From Scotland to the Arctic

16:00-16:50 GMT - Nordic Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by CAFF

Effective conservation, restoration, and management of wetlands, including peatlands, holds enormous potential to contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation, and conservation of biodiversity. Here, policy makers and experts from Scotland and Arctic states explored the challenges and opportunities that are emerging as we collectively seek to protect and restore these crucial ecosystems.

6 November

Tales of two oceans

13:00 - 14:15 GMT - Cryosphere Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, NOAA, AMAP

The Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean are crucial components of the Earth’s systems and play key roles in regulating climate. They are home to unique ecosystems that are under serious threat from climate change impacts such as warming, acidification and freshening. These Polar oceans are already experiencing large changes in their chemistry and through continued warming will see more non-polar species moving into them, and knock-on consequences for food webs, fisheries, and climate regulation. This session provided insight into some of the lesser known but highly significant impacts of climate change in the Polar Oceans; and subsequent wider environmental and societal impacts towards raising ambition for reducing emissions.

Triple threat to polar oceans

18:00 GMT - Cryosphere Pavillion - Watch recording
Organized by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, NOAA, British Antarctic Survey and AMAP

Summary event of the Polar Oceans' Day.