News

Norwegian Chairship Launches Initiative to Address Wildland Fires in the Arctic

The Chairship Wildland Fires Initiative aims to increase circumpolar collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnership on wildland fires to tackle this urgent climate issu...

Quiz: Which 2021 Arctic Council report should you read based on your interests?

In 2021, the Arctic Council's Working and Expert Groups released over 50 new reports on topics including climate change, emergency response, biodiversity, Arctic shipping...

Introducing the new ACAP Chair: “The Arctic becomes a part of you”

Patrick Huber is a specialist in some of the planet’s most pressing challenges: environmental and energy issues. As the new Chair of the Arctic Contaminants Action Progra...

“Plastic in a Bottle” afloat again

In September 2019, the Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group launched its first “Plastic in a Bottle”, a capsule equipped with...

Arctic states on track to reach the collective goal on black carbon emissions

The Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane releases its Summary of Progress and Recommendations 2021

Tackling waste pollution in the Arctic with community empowerment

How the Saami Council engaged with communities to remove waste and reclaim land

On the heels of persistent pollutants

Persistent organic pollutants have been on the radar of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) for a long time.

Are we prepared for a radiation emergency in the Arctic?

A look into the Radiation Expert Group and its collaborative approach to radiation risks and incidents

Mercury from outside the Arctic is polluting the region

AMAP Working Group lays a scientific foundation while ACAP WG implements projects to stimulate actions to reduce emissions. This is how they work together to inspire chan...

Sneak peek into the new work of the Arctic Council – A briefing series

Be one of the first to learn about the latest reports, assessments and activities from the Council’s Working Groups on the topics of climate change, Arctic shipping, huma...

Sneak peek on the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter with Elizabeth McLanahan

The Icelandic Chairmanship put a focus on marine litter in the Arctic. One of the most anticipated outcomes is the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter in the Arctic, wh...

Mercury and toxic cocktails affect the Arctic ecosystems, wildlife and human health – How to take action?

Tackling mercury pollution is a priority for the Arctic Contaminants Action Program Working Group. Why is it an issue in the Arctic?

“There is very little information about the impacts of plastics on shorebirds”

Interview with Dr Scott Flemming, 2020-2021 CAFF-IASC Fellow with the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative

How black carbon can increase the risk for respiratory diseases

Interview with Dr Ragnhildur Finnbjörnsdóttir, Iceland’s Head of Delegation for the Arctic Council’s Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane

5 Facts About Dioxins, One of the Most Toxic Compounds on Earth

Dioxins are extremely toxic and can interfere with hormones and cause numerous very serious health problems. Unfortunately, all humans are exposed to them. The Arctic Con...

On track with the regional plastic action plan for the Arctic

In October 2019, the Belfer Center’s Arctic Initiative and the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute co-hosted a workshop on Policy and Action on Plastic in the Arctic Ocean wi...

From Iceland to Scotland in 207 days

A capsule containing a GPS transmitter travelled several thousand kilometres from Iceland to Scotland –highlighting how marine litter can travel.

PAME releases first ‘plastic in a bottle’

The Arctic Council’s Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working Group launched the first bottle equipped with a GPS transmitter into the Atlantic on 12 Se...

Interview with Magnús Jóhannesson, the Special Coordinator on Plastics

Magnús Jóhannesson is the Council’s designated special coordinator on plastics, marine litter. In this interview, the former Director of the Arctic Council Secretariat sp...

Interview with ACAP Chair Inger Johanne Wiese

"ACAP’s work is focused on pollution and short-lived climate drivers. Pollution is a threat to the Arctic ecosystem and people living there."