Arctic Council consultations move work forward

The Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship concludes Strategic Planning Consultations with Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Working Groups

The Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship concludes Strategic Planning Consultations with Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Working Groups

To advance strategic planning and cooperation in the Arctic Council, the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship recently concluded three consultation meetings that each brought together a subset of Arctic State Senior Arctic Officials, Indigenous Permanent Participant Heads of Delegation and Working Group Chairs for joint discussions for the first time since 2022. The aim was to reflect on ongoing work as well as the future work of the Council, and to identify shared priorities and opportunities for advancing Arctic Council work on substantive issues and commitments from the Romssa-Tromsø Statement (May 2025).

Adapting to changing times

"In a rapidly transforming Arctic, it's essential that the Council remains relevant, responsive and forward-looking," said Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials. "Evolving environmental, geopolitical, and socio-economic dynamics are generating and accentuating issues that require the Council's attention and prompt reflection on how its work can address these changing times."

Official Arctic Council meetings were put on pause in March 2022. In February 2024, the Arctic Council reached consensus to resume virtual meetings at the Working Group level, advancing the Council's scientific work, while diplomatic-level meetings remain paused. In the absence of full Arctic Council meetings, the Chairship had until now been holding separate informal meetings with Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Working Groups. The aim of the new approach is to strengthen, within the confines of the current political situation, cooperation and transparency across all levels of the Council's work - diplomatic, Indigenous and scientific.

A step forward

"The Chairship has tried this new approach because while a return to business as usual is not possible at present, we still need to act and consult each other. This year marks the Arctic Council's 30th anniversary. If we are to meet our shared ambitions as a Council, and to remain the leading forum for cooperation in the Arctic, we should be innovative and exploit the opportunities at hand," said Kenneth Høegh. "This pilot provided an opportunity for enriched, constructive dialogue with Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Working Groups on substantive issues that will help us navigate these unique times and increase our effectiveness as a Council".