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</div> </div> </nav> </header> <main class="main_4776"> <div class='container head-default'><div class='mt-5 text-center'><nav class='breadcrumbs mb-2'><small><span class='breadcrumb-item'><a href='/about/'>Organization</a></span></small></nav><h1>Arctic Council Secretariat</h1></div></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="/site/templates/scripts/lists.js"></script> <section class='block block_text bg-transparent'> <div class='container'> <div class='row justify-content-center'><div class='col-md'><div class='bg-transparent depth-1'> <div class='textblock'><p>The Arctic Council Secretariat (ACS) supports the Chair of the Arctic Council.</p> <p>At the Nuuk Ministerial Meeting May 2011 Arctic Ministers decided to establish the Standing Arctic Council Secretariat at the Fram Centre in Tromsø. The Standing Secretariat became operational 1 June 2013.</p> <h3>ACS functions</h3> <h4>Administrative and organizational support</h4> <ul> <li>arranging and servicing meetings as required</li> <li>transmitting reports to and from Arctic states, Permanent Participants, Working Groups and Task Forces, other subsidiary bodies and Observers</li> <li>assisting the Chair in drafting meeting documents including final reports</li> <li>providing services to Permanent Participants and Working Groups</li> <li>administrative services concerning general correspondence</li> <li>archiving of records</li> </ul> <h4>Communication and outreach</h4> <ul> <li>operating the Arctic Council website, including web pages of those Working Groups without a secretariat</li> <li>facilitating and improving the quality and availability of information on the Arctic Council</li> <li>recording, maintaining and posting, as appropriate, the records of the Arctic Council</li> <li>facilitating the exchange of information among the Arctic states, Permanent Participants and Observers</li> <li>at the request of SAOs and Permanent Participants, developing strategic communication and outreach plans and other documents under the direct supervision of the Chair, in support of the Arctic Council</li> </ul></div> </div></div><div class='col-md-3'><div class='bg-light depth-2'> <div class='textblock'><h3>Contact us</h3> <p>Arctic Council Secretariat<br /> Fram Centre<br /> Postboks 6606 Stakkevollan<br /> 9296 Tromsø<br /> Norway</p> <p><a href="mailto:acs@arctic-council.org">Email</a></p> <p><a href="https://arctic-council.org/contact/">Contact staff members</a></p></div> </div></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="text-align:center;"><a href="https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/handle/11374/938">Key Arctic Council Secretariat Documents</a></h2></div> </div></div></section><section class='block block_pubthumbs bg-transparent'> <div class='container'> <div class='row justify-content-center'><div class='col-md-3'><h3><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/9c0efd00-8425-4916-835c-14e0478d4fcb'></a></h3><div class='row'><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/9c0efd00-8425-4916-835c-14e0478d4fcb' class='pubItem'> <div class=''> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/7b156fb0-0a45-49c2-8f5f-2ca664ab1eca/content' class='img-fluid' alt='thumb'> </div> Arctic Council Secretariat Terms of Reference </a></div></div><div class='col-md-3'><h3><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/c2b2ac18-0072-4320-9dd9-905076a3720e'></a></h3><div class='row'><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/c2b2ac18-0072-4320-9dd9-905076a3720e' class='pubItem'> <div class=''> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5d14f355-9a1f-4f96-9b6d-a06245e775bb/content' class='img-fluid' alt='thumb'> </div> Arctic Council Secretariat Staff Rules </a></div></div><div class='col-md-3'><h3><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/b45b35b7-6a0f-4d3f-80f9-9f1ec20289db'></a></h3><div class='row'><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/b45b35b7-6a0f-4d3f-80f9-9f1ec20289db' class='pubItem'> <div class=''> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/9e6c882c-7191-4abc-9a67-3a57c65e4786/content' class='img-fluid' alt='thumb'> </div> Arctic Council Secretariat Financial Rules </a></div></div><div class='col-md-3'><h3><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/19993159-85d4-44fd-91f4-8787692cbae0'></a></h3><div class='row'><a href='https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/items/19993159-85d4-44fd-91f4-8787692cbae0' class='pubItem'> <div class=''> <img src = 'https://oaarchive.arctic-council.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5b19cca5-2c7d-46aa-800c-f07bad9660fd/content' class='img-fluid' alt='thumb'> </div> Host country agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Arctic Council Secretariat on the legal status of the Secretariat and the privileges and immunities of the Secretariat and its staff members </a></div></div></div></div></section><section class='block block_news bg-transparent'> <div class='container'><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/introducing-mathieu-parker-the-new-director-of-the-arctic-council-secretariat/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/8780/img_0374.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/8780/img_0374.480x350.jpg' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/8780/img_0374.480x350.jpg' class='img-fluid' alt='Photo: Mathieu Parker' title='Photo: Mathieu Parker ' loading='lazy' /></picture></a></div> <div class ='col-md-8 px-4'> <h4><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/introducing-mathieu-parker-the-new-director-of-the-arctic-council-secretariat/'>Introducing Mathieu Parker: The new director of the Arctic Council Secretariat</a></h4>Since the end of September, Mathieu Parker is the new Director of the Arctic Council Secretariat (ACS). The former Canadian government executive takes over the role from ...<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>21 Oct 2021</div> </div> </div><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/the-powerhouse-behind-the-scenes/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/7323/yellowknife.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/7323/yellowknife.480x350.jpg' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/7323/yellowknife.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/the-powerhouse-behind-the-scenes/'>The powerhouse behind the scenes</a></h4>Nina Buvang Vaaja has shaped the Arctic Council Secretariat (ACS) like no other. When her term as Director ends in August, she will have served the Arctic Council for twe...<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>02 Jul 2021</div> </div> </div><div class='row mb-5 '> <div class='col-md-4 pr-2'><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/women-of-the-arctic-council-nina-buvang-vaaja-director-of-the-arctic-council-secretariat/' class='point-tr'><picture> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/4491/background5.480x350.webp' type='image/webp'> <source srcset='/site/assets/files/4491/background5.480x350.jpeg' type='image/jpeg'><img src='/site/assets/files/4491/background5.480x350.jpeg' class='img-fluid' alt='Icebergs' title='Icebergs © iStock' loading='lazy' /></picture></a></div> <div class ='col-md-8 px-4'> <h4><a href='https://arctic-council.org/news/women-of-the-arctic-council-nina-buvang-vaaja-director-of-the-arctic-council-secretariat/'>Women of the Arctic Council: Nina Buvang Vaaja, Arctic Council Secretariat Director</a></h4>In honor of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we spoke with some of the women who work with the Arctic Council to learn more about them, what it means to be a woman i...<div class='small text-muted mt-2'>02 Mar 2020</div> </div> </div><a href='/news/' class='btn btn-primary mb-5 seeall'>See all</a></div></section> <script> var options = { valueNames: [ 'acronym', 'full' ] }; 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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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