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id='search' role='button' data-toggle='dropdown' aria-haspopup='true' aria-expanded='false'> <i class='bi bi-search'></i> </a> <div class='dropdown-menu mt-n1 w-100' aria-labelledby='search'> <form class='form-inline container p-3' action='/search/' method='get'> <input class='form-control search w-75' type='text' placeholder='Search' aria-label='Search' name='q' value=''> <button class='btn btn-primary' type='submit' name='submit'> Search</button> </form> </div> </span> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <main class="main_1086"> <div class='container head-default'><div class='mt-5 text-center'><nav class='breadcrumbs mb-2'><small><span class='breadcrumb-item'><a href='/explore/'>Our work</a></span><span class='breadcrumb-item'><a href='/explore/work/'>How we work</a></span></small></nav><h1>International cooperation in the Arctic</h1></div></div><div class='submenu bg-light' id='submenu'><h5><a href='/explore/work/'>How we work</a></h5><div class='py-1'><a href='/explore/work/cooperation/' class='current'>Agreements and cooperation</a></div><div class='py-1'><a href='/explore/work/arctic-knowledge/' class=''>Data and knowledge</a></div><div class='py-1'><a href='/explore/work/monitoring/' class=''>Monitoring</a></div><div class='py-1'><a href='/explore/work/assessments/' class=''>Assessments</a></div><div class='py-1'><a href='/explore/work/policy-recommendations/' class=''>Recommendations</a></div></div> <section class='container'> <div class='container border-bottom pb-3 textblock'> <div class='lead'>The establishment of the Arctic Council was considered an important milestone enhancing cooperation in the circumpolar North. In the Ottawa Declaration, the eight Arctic States established the Council as a high-level forum to provide means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States – including the full consultation and full involvement of Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.</div> </div> </section> <section class='block block_text bg-light'> <div class='container'><div class='bg-light depth-0'> <div class='textblock'><h2 style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">International agreements</h2> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">On three occasions, the Arctic States have negotiated legally binding agreements under the auspices of the Arctic Council. These aim at enhancing international cooperation on issues related to maritime search and rescue, marine oil pollution, and Arctic scientific cooperation respectively:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11374/531">Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic</a><br /> (signed 2011)</li> <li><a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11374/529">Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic</a><br /> (signed 2013)</li> <li><a href="https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/1916">Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation</a><br /> (signed 2017)</li> </ul></div> </div></div></section><section class='block block_text bg-light'> <div class='container'><div class='bg-light depth-0'> <div class='textblock'><h2>Relationships with external organizations</h2> <p>From time to time, the Arctic Council or its subsidary bodies develop relationships with external organizations to further Arctic cooperation. <a href="/explore/work/cooperation/relationships/">See the list of relationships here.</a></p></div> </div></div></section><section class='block block_text bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><div class='bg-transparent depth-0'> <div class='textblock'><h2 style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">The Arctic – An area of unique international cooperation</h2> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">Since its establishment in 1996, the Arctic Council has provided a space and mechanism to address common concerns across Arctic States – with a special emphasis on the protection of the Arctic environment and sustainable development. Over the years, the Council has emerged as the pre-eminent high-level forum of the Arctic region to discuss these issues and has turned the region into an area of unique international cooperation.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">This cooperation spans across the eight Arctic States, six Indigenous Peoples’ organizations with Permanent Participant status in the Council, six Working Groups, and close to 40 non-Arctic States and international organizations holding Observer status in the Council.</p> <h3 style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">A vision for cooperation</h3> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">At the heart of the Council’s cooperation efforts lies peace and stability in the region. In their <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11374/287">Vision for the Arctic</a>, a document developed after the first round of eight successive chairmanships of the Council in 2013, the Arctic States together with the Permanent Participants stated that “there is no problem that we cannot solve together through our cooperative relationships on the basis of existing international law and good will.”</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;">This spirit of cooperation remains strong and transcends the Council’s working areas from safeguarding Indigenous peoples’ rights and cultures, to fostering sustainable economic development for self-sufficient, vibrant and healthy communities, and to acting on a changing Arctic climate and harmful environmental impacts.</p> <p style="margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;"> </p></div> </div></div></section><section class='block block_projects bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><section><h3 class='text-center'>Related projects</h3><section 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'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/773134f5-005e-4b8a-a3ad-4f4647db2409/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>Reykjavik declaration (2021)</small> </div><div class='col-6 col-md-2'> <a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/0935a448-fa6f-40ce-9d52-c84c7afd8d39' class='d-block'> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2ce39243-0bd3-46b7-8fa9-1c6a7274af4a/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>Arctic Council Strategic Plan</small> </div><div class='col-6 col-md-2'> <a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/36c8e8af-caa5-40ac-8c15-59f7e40b7d2b' class='d-block'> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/c44f2cd3-c777-47a3-afa5-1b61ca292f82/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>Circumpolar Local Environmental Observer Network: Full report and Summary for Policymakers</small> </div><div class='col-6 col-md-2'> <a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/0b1839bc-5327-4217-98e5-113ba8501d4d' class='d-block'> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5b72dbb4-4bd7-4b26-8e0c-3bc3e4d0afad/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>RADSAR report: Sharing of competence within search and rescue ina maritime radiological/nuclear scenario</small> </div><div class='col-6 col-md-2'> <a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/a8531a4a-ab09-49b1-ab4f-81c60464c307' class='d-block'> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/72627eac-3d3d-41be-aa44-591e111bd239/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter in the Arctic</small> </div><div class='col-6 col-md-2'> <a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/f6653d0d-4d4a-4e25-9b04-ab279b76b88b' class='d-block'> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2d1d4ff8-a674-46df-a475-3bfb6467a2ac/content' class='border w-100' alt='thumb'> </a> <small>Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Marine Activities</small> </div></div></div></section><section class='block block_news bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><h3>International cooperation news</h3><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/arctic-council-celebrates-25-years-of-arctic-cooperation/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/8268/anniversary_collage_1.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/8268/anniversary_collage_1.480x350.jpg' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/8268/anniversary_collage_1.480x350.jpg' class='img-fluid' alt='' title=' ' loading='lazy' /></picture></a></div> <div class ='col-md-8 px-4'> <h4><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/arctic-council-celebrates-25-years-of-arctic-cooperation/'>Celebrating 25 years of Arctic cooperation</a></h4>The world’s leading international forum for Arctic cooperation reflects on the unique collaboration among Arctic States and Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and looks forward t...<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>16 Sep 2021</div> </div> </div><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/introduction-to-international-agreement-to-prevent-unregulated-fishing-in-the-high-seas-of-the-central-arctic-ocean/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/2901/map_background-01-01.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/2901/map_background-01-01.480x350.png' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/2901/map_background-01-01.480x350.png' class='img-fluid' alt='Arctic Council logo' title='Arctic Council logo © Arctic Council' loading='lazy' /></picture></a></div> <div class ='col-md-8 px-4'> <h4><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/introduction-to-international-agreement-to-prevent-unregulated-fishing-in-the-high-seas-of-the-central-arctic-ocean/'>An introduction to: The International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the High Seas of the Central Arctic Ocean</a></h4>Today, the International Agreement to Prevent Unregulated Fishing in the High Seas of the Central Arctic Ocean enters into force. The Agreement will prevent commercial fi...<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>25 Jun 2021</div> </div> </div><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/the-arctic-migratory-birds-initiative/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/6674/dsc_5564_nikolay_yakushev.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/6674/dsc_5564_nikolay_yakushev.480x350.jpg' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/6674/dsc_5564_nikolay_yakushev.480x350.jpg' class='img-fluid' alt='' title=' © Nikolay Yakushev' loading='lazy' /></picture></a></div> <div class ='col-md-8 px-4'> <h4><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/the-arctic-migratory-birds-initiative/'>The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative</a></h4>Building flyway cooperation to support Arctic-breeding birds across the world<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>10 May 2021</div> </div> </div><a href='/news/cooperation' class='btn btn-primary mb-5 seeall'>See all</a></div></section></main> <footer class="bg-dark"> <section class='block block_social bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><div class='bg-transparent'><h3>Follow the Arctic Council</h3><div class='social'><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://twitter.com/arcticcouncil'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-twitter h3' title='twitter'></i> <span class='mr-4'>twitter<span> </a> </div></div><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://facebook.com/arcticcouncil'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-facebook h3' title='facebook'></i> <span class='mr-4'>facebook<span> </a> </div></div><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://instagram.com/arcticcouncil'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-instagram h3' title='instagram'></i> <span class='mr-4'>instagram<span> </a> </div></div><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://vimeo.com/arcticcouncil'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-vimeo h3' title='vimeo'></i> <span class='mr-4'>vimeo<span> </a> </div></div><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://youtube.com/@TheArcticCouncil'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-youtube h3' title='youtube'></i> <span class='mr-4'>youtube<span> </a> </div></div><div class='text-center d-inline-block'> <div class=' mb-3'> <a href='http://flickr.com/arctic_council'> <i aria-hidden='true' class='bi bi-flickr h3' title='flickr'></i> <span class='mr-4'>flickr<span> </a> </div></div> </div> </div></div></section><section class='block block_text bg-transparent'> <div class='container'> <div class='row justify-content-center'><div class='col-md-3'><div class='bg-transparent depth-2'> <div class='textblock'><h3>Contact us</h3> <p><strong>Arctic Council Secretariat</strong><br /> Fram Centre<br /> Postboks 6606 Stakkevollan<br /> 9296 Tromsø<br /> Norway<br /> <a href="mailto:acs@arctic-council.org">acs@arctic-council.org</a><br /> <a href="/contact/">Contact staff members</a></p></div> </div></div><div class='col-md'><h3 class='pt-3'>Get Arctic updates</h3> <form action="https://arctic-council.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=274ca09fc8d82dc42a5dfad22&id=155caa8912" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate form-inline" target="_blank" novalidate> <div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll" class="form-row pb-3"> <div class="col-md-8"> <label for "EMAIL" class="d-none">Email address</label> <input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" class="email form-control w-100" id="mce-EMAIL" placeholder="email address" required> <div style="position: absolute; 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Indigenous Peoples’ organizations have been granted Permanent Participants status in the Arctic Council.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/working-groups/'>Working Groups</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Council's activities are conducted in six Working Groups.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/task-expert/'>Task forces and expert groups</a> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/observers/'>Observers</a> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/secretariat/'>Arctic Council Secretariat</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic Council Secretariat (ACS) supports the Chair of the Arctic Council.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/indigenous-peoples-secretariat/'>Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat (IPS) provides support for the Permanent Participants, the groups representing Arctic Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Council.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/norway-chair-2/'>Norway's Chairship, 2023-2025</a> <p class='list-summary'>Stability and constructive cooperation in the Arctic</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/previous-chairmanships/'>All Chairmanships</a> <p class='list-summary'>All Arctic Council Chairmanships, meetings and documents.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/timeline/'>History</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic Council turned 25 in 2021! Learn more with this timeline of our history.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/about/jobs/'>Jobs</a> </div> </div></div> </div></div><div class='col-md'><div class='bg-transparent p-4 depth1'> <div class=''></div> <div class='listContainer list-work plain'><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/work/cooperation/'>Agreements and cooperation</a> <p class='list-summary'>The establishment of the Arctic Council was considered an important milestone enhancing cooperation in the circumpolar North. In the Ottawa Declaration, the eight Arctic States established the Council as a high-level forum to provide means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States – including the full consultation and full involvement of Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/work/arctic-knowledge/'>Data and knowledge</a> <p class='list-summary'>At any given time the Council’s subsidiary bodies – the Working and Expert Groups – are engaged in close to 100 projects and initiatives.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/work/monitoring/'>Monitoring</a> <p class='list-summary'>As the Arctic continues to experience a period of intense and accelerating change it has become increasingly important to have better information on the status and trends of the Arctic environment.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/work/assessments/'>Assessments</a> <p class='list-summary'>Through the ever-growing body of assessments produced by its six Working Groups, the Arctic Council serves as knowledge broker and global advocate for Arctic topics. The Working Groups’ assessments have been instrumental in bringing Arctic issues to a global arena through policy recommendations and international cooperation.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/work/policy-recommendations/'>Recommendations</a> <p class='list-summary'>The strong knowledge base produced by the Arctic Council’s Working Groups and other subsidiary bodies feeds into recommendations for informed decision-making.</p> </div> </div></div> </div></div><div class='col-md'><div class='bg-transparent p-4 depth1'> <div class=''></div> <div class='listContainer list-topics plain'><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/arctic-peoples/'>Arctic Peoples</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic is home to almost four million people today – Indigenous people, more recent arrivals, hunters and herders living on the land, and city dwellers.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/biodiversity/'>Biodiversity</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic is home to more than 21,000 known species of highly cold-adapted mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, plants and fungi and microbes.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/climate/'>Climate</a> <p class='list-summary'>The temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise at three times the global annual average.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/ocean/'>Ocean</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic States hold a responsibility to safeguard the future development of the region and to develop models for stewardship of the marine environment.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/pollutants/'>Pollutants</a> <p class='list-summary'>The Arctic environment carries the traces of human-induced pollution – from soot to plastics, from methane to pesticides.</p> </div> </div><div class='listItem'><div class='list-text'> <a href='/explore/topics/emergency/'>Emergencies</a> <p class='list-summary'>Harsh conditions and limited infrastructure in much of the Arctic increase risks and impacts and hinder response activities.</p> </div> </div></div> </div></div></div></div></section><section class='block block_code bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><div class="text-center"> <small> © <script type="text/javascript">document.write(new Date().getFullYear());</script> Arctic Council Secretariat | <a href="/privacy-policy/">Privacy policy and disclaimers</a> </small> </div></div></section> </footer>  <div class="bg-secondary p-3 cookie-banner" style="display: none"> We use cookies to save your language preference and better understand how visitors use the site. 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