1. The Arctic Council Foundation:
1996 Ottawa Declaration establishes the Arctic Council as a high-level intergovernmental forum to:
Promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common arctic issues, in particular sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.
This PPT was created by the USARC from prior PPTs (form the Norwegian chairmanship, and others), and from USARC original content. John Farrell 11/14/14

2. Member States Canada Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Russian Federation
Sweden
United States of America

3. Permanent Participants
Aleut International Association
Arctic Athabaskan Council
Gwich’in Council International
Inuit Circumpolar Council
Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)
Saami Council
Supported by the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat in Norway
Permanent Participants at the 7th Ministerial Meeting in Nuuk, Greenland. May 12, 2011 (Copyright IPS)

4. Observer States China France Italy Germany Japan Netherlands Korea
Poland
Singapore
Spain
India UK
Photo: US Department of Interior

5. Observers: Intl’ Organizations
Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region
International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM)
Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO)
North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE)
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

6. Observer NGOs Advisory Committee on Protection of the Seas (ACOPS)
Arctic Circumpolar Route (ARC)
Association of World Reindeer Herders (AWRH)
Circumpolar Conservation Union (CCU)
International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)
International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)
International Union for Circumpolar Health (IUCH)
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
Northern Forum (NF)
University of the Arctic (UArctic)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

7. Governance
Foreign Ministers of Arctic Council Member States and the political leaders of the Permanent Participants of the Arctic Council meet every two years.
Senior Arctic Officials, composed of representatives of the Member States Council meet twice a year, along with Permanent Participants
The Chairmanship of the Council rotates among member states every two years. US becomes Chair in April 2015

8. Working Groups
Implementation of Arctic Council objectives is carried out by six Working Groups:
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)
Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR)
Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

9. Arctic Council Structure
2015 – 2017 Chairmanship: USA
*Six indigenous groups (“Permanent Participants”) participate at all levels*
Ministers
Senior Arctic Officials
Task Force on
Science Cooperation
Co-chairs:
US, RF, SE
Task Force on
Black Carbon and Methane
Co-chairs:
CA, SE
Working Groups
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)
Chair: Denmark
U.S. representative: WH/GCRP
Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
Chair: Iceland
U.S. representative: DOC/NOAA
JF updated this…
Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)
Chair: Finland
U.S. representative: EPA
Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR)
Chair: Norway
U.S. representative: DOE/NNSA
Sustainable Development
Working Group
(SDWG)
Chair: Canada
U.S. representative: DOS
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
Chair: Canada
U.S. representative: DOI/FWS

10. National & Homeland security
Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness & Response Agreement
At the May 2013 Ministerial meeting the Arctic States signed an agreement facilitating cooperative marine oil pollution preparedness and response in the Arctic
Oil Pollution Prevention
The 2013 Kiruna Declaration established a Task Force on Oil Spill Prevention that will consider cooperative actions to avert an oil emergency in the Arctic
Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Agreement: The Arctic States-- under the leadership of United States, Russia, and Norway-- recently concluded negotiations on a legally-binding agreement facilitating cooperation in the event of an Arctic oil emergency, which will be signed at the Ministerial concluding the Swedish Chairmanship in May The Coast Guard served as the U.S. Head of Delegation to the Task Force negotiating the agreement, which is only the second legally-binding instrument to be negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council. It will be accompanied by a non-binding operational guidance document.

11. Search and Rescue (SAR) Agreement
SAR negotiations co-led by the US and Russia
2,801,911 sq. miles of aeronautical and maritime SAR coverage
Based on 1979 IMO Maritime SAR Convention and the 1949 International Civil Aviation Convention (ICAO) – Annex 12
Entered into force on January 19, 2013
Some developments that are of more direct relevance from a security perspective include actions both in the Arctic Council and in other contexts.
The Search and Rescue Agreement signed by the Foreign Ministers is a landmark as the first agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Council. It also marked the first time that military personnel (Navy) were directly involved in an Arctic Council undertaking. But, it is important to note that Coast Guard is heavily engaged in the EPPR working group, and somewhat engaged in the PAME working group.
From a process perspective, it is worth noting that the United States and the Russian Federation co-chaired the process. This is seen as an example of concrete cooperation stemming from the “reset” of our relations. All eight countries had a common goal of improving our SAR cooperation in the Arctic. This agreement is seen as an important step in that direction, but everyone realizes that there is an acute shortage of SAR assets in the Arctic as the amount of maritime and aviation traffic in the region increases.
One important accomplishment was the development of this map that clearly delineates areas of SAR responsibility for the entire Arctic. The lines on this map are drawn without prejudice to the actual maritime boundaries between countries.

12. Canadian Chairmanship
The Overarching Theme for the Canadian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council is: Development for the People of the North
Responsible Arctic Resource Development
Safe Arctic Shipping
Sustainable Circumpolar Communities
Picture:
Minister Aglukkaq assumes the Chair of the Arctic Council from Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

13. Arctic Economic Council
Created by an Arctic Council Task force during Canadian Chairmanship
Purpose is to facilitate Arctic business-to business activities and responsible economic development
Inaugural meeting on Sept. 2-3, 2014 in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
42 business representatives
Six indigenous organizations

14. Arctic Economic Council
Sectors Include:
Infrastructure and related matters including:
maritime transportation
communications and IT
aviation
Energy, including oil, gas and renewable sources
Mining
Tourism
Fishing
Human resources investments and capacity building

15. Arctic Economic Council
Five overarching themes:
Establishing strong market connections between Arctic states;
Encouraging public-private partnerships for infrastructure investments;
Creating stable and predictable regulatory frameworks;
Facilitating knowledge and data exchange between industry and academia; and,
Traditional indigenous knowledge, stewardship and focus on small businesses

16. Arctic Economic Council
US representation
Gail Schubert, Bering Straits Native Corporation
Lori Davey, Fairweather LLC
Bruce Harland, Crowley
Permanent Participant Representation
Tara Sweeney, Inuit Circumpolar Conference-Alaska
Thomas Mack, Aleut International Association
Jeanine Elias, Arctic Athabaskan Council

17. Promoting International Scientific Cooperation
Task Force on Science Cooperation
Co-Chairs: United States, Russian Federation, and Sweden
Improve access to the Arctic, scientific exchanges, data sharing, and research protocols. NSF’s K. Falkner is head of US delegation.
Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks
Chair: Arctic Council (U.S. – USGCRP)
Vice-Chair: Intl’ Arctic Science Committee (CA – U. of Alberta)
USGCRP = United States Global Change Research Program
Task Force on Science Cooperation: Scientists regularly face difficulties gaining access to remote Arctic areas-- particularly in Russia-- and cannot consistently transport collected samples across international borders.  The task force may consider ways to promote better access, scientific exchanges, data sharing, and protocols for research conducted within indigenous communities

18. US Chairmanship of the Arctic Council
The United States will assume the chairmanship of the Arctic Council from Canada in Spring 2015
It will chair the Council for two years through Spring 2017
Cleared talking points:
The Administration has begun planning for the United States chairmanship of the Arctic Council from Spring 2015 through Spring 2017
The Arctic Council is a consensus-based intergovernmental forum that is chaired by each Arctic State for a period of two years. Canada currently chairs the Council and the United States will be the next chair.
When a country takes over the chairmanship, it usually seeks to promote certain topics, although the normal work of the Council continues uninterrupted.
We are currently discussing a range of thematic areas and specific projects within the U.S. government that we could carry forward during our chairmanship. We plan to seek the input of a range of U.S. interest groups as well.
Once we have an agreed set of U.S. priorities, we will then seek the consensus of the other seven Arctic States- a requirement for initiating new work in the council- and advice from the Permanent Participants. This process will likely begin in 2014.
Although some are of the view that groups of like-minded countries, such as the Scandinavian countries or Canada and the United States, should work together as, essentially, a single chairmanship, that is not how the Council works. Each Arctic State chairs with its own style and its own unique priorities
Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at Kiruna Ministerial Meeting, May 2013

19. “One Arctic: Shared Opportunities, Challenges, and Responsibilities”
US Chairmanship Theme
“One Arctic: Shared Opportunities, Challenges, and Responsibilities”
Three areas of emphasis:
Addressing climate change
Arctic Ocean stewardship
Improving economic and
living conditions in the Arctic

20. Arctic Council Secretariat
Main responsibilities of the Secretariat, in Tromso, NO:
Facilitate/support overall work of the Arctic Council on behalf of the Chairmanship
Logistics and coordination of Arctic Council meetings
Facilitate Working group coordination and communication
Outreach, communication and information sharing
Other support for the Arctic Council Chairmanship