Consider the following countries:
- Denmark
- Japan
- Russian Federation
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council ‘?
- 1, 2 and 3
- 2, 3 and 4
- 1, 4 and 5
- 1, 3 and 5
Explanation
Option (d) is correct
- 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 concerns related to the Arctic region, including sustainable development and environmental protection.
- 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.
- 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.
- India had been given observer status in 2013.
