The Arctic Council: Perspectives on a Changing Arctic, The Council’s Work, and Key Challenges. A Joint Memorandum of a Multilateral Audit on the Arctic States’ national authorities’ work with the Arctic Council.

• Main Author: Arctic Council
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Arctic Council Secretariat 2015
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Faroe Islands; Greenland; Norway; Arctic Council; Iceland; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11374/1527

We are pleased to present this memorandum highlighting the results of a cooperative effort among the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of five Arctic nations to better understand the Arctic Council – an intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation on Arctic issues – during a time of increased interest and changes in the Arctic. This work is important because of international interest in the Arctic and its resources. Specifically, increases in Arctic temperatures accompanied by declines in sea ice have elevated interest in economic development of the Arctic and increased pressure on ecosystems and indigenous peoples. In 1996, the eight Arctic nations established the Arctic Council as a high-level inter- governmental forum to promote cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic nations on common issues, especially sustainable development and environ- mental protection. Arctic Council Member States include Canada, The Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States of America. In addition, the Council includes Permanent Participants representing indigenous peoples, and Observers comprised of non-Arctic nations and other groups. The SAIs of five Arctic nations – led and coordinated by the SAIs of Norway and the Russian Federation collaborated on a multilateral audit of national participation in the Arctic Council. The multilateral audit has been carried out in accordance with a stra- tegic plan signed by the participating SAIs in October 2012. Through our work, we intend to inform Arctic governance and enhance the usefulness of the Council in understanding and managing Arctic issues. Our findings can assist the Council, governments, policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, the public, and researchers in understanding the primary forum for Arctic governance, the mechanisms for conducting the Council’s work, and efforts to implement joint agree- ments. The content of this memorandum represents the ...