Arctic Council

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Context (IE): The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, leading to the loss of sea ice and the thawing of permafrost.

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and other Arctic inhabitants.
It addresses the concerns related to the Arctic region, including sustainable development and safeguarding the environment in the Arctic region.
It was formally established in 1996 through the Ottawa Declaration.
The establishment was preceded by the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (June 1991), a declaration on protecting the Arctic environment.

Members of the Arctic Council

The eight Arctic States (whose territories fall in the Arctic region) are members of the Arctic Council.
These are Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the US.
All Arctic Council decisions:
- Require consensus of the eight Arctic States.
- Happens in consultation with the permanent participants.

Six organisations representing the indigenous people of the Arctic region have been granted the status of permanent participants.

The Observer status is granted to entities that support the objectives of the Arctic Council and have demonstrated capabilities, including the ability to make financial contributions.
Observers of the Arctic Council are:
- Thirteen Countries, including India.
- Thirteen intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary organisations
- Twelve Non-governmental organisations.

The Arctic Council cannot implement/enforce its guidelines, assessments, or recommendations. The responsibility belongs to individual Arctic States or international bodies.
The Arctic Council’s mandate excludes military security.
It has no programming budget. Arctic States sponsors all projects or initiatives. Some projects also receive support from other entities.