At the 10th Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska, Ministers of the eight Arctic States and leaders from the six indigenous Permanent Participant organizations of the Arctic Council met to mark the passing of the Chairmanship from the U.S. to Finland. Ministers also signed the third binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Council.

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Arctic Council Ministerial

Foreign ministers of the eight Arctic States signed the third binding agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council, the “Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation,” which will help to facilitate entry and exit of persons, equipment, and material; access to research infrastructure and facilities; access to research areas; the use of traditional and local knowledge; and education, career development, and training opportunities for students and early-career scientists. Ministers also signed the Fairbanks Declaration, which reviews the work of the Council during the outgoing U.S. Chairmanship and provides guidance for the Council’s work during the incoming Finnish Chairmanship. The four priorities for the Finnish Chairmanship’s two years are: environmental protection; connectivity; meteorological cooperation; and education.