Arctic Science Ministerial postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19
The third Arctic Science Ministerial, scheduled to take place this November, has now been moved to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ministerial is being co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.
“Strong co-operation is the key to success in light of our common challenges due to rapid climate change in the Arctic,” said Lilja Alfredsdottir, Iceland’s Minister of Education and Culture, in a July 17 news release announcing the date change.
“The co-operation with Japan has been successful, and our common guiding principles in this project are cooperation, participation, transparency and innovation,” she said.
The ministerial will take place May 8-9, 2021 in Tokyo.
The first Arctic Science Ministerial was hosted by the United States in 2016. The second was co-hosted by Germany, Finland, and the European Commission in 2018.
Spotlighting research by non-Arctic states
The science ministerials were established to foster cooperation and collaboration between Arctic and non-Arctic states to better understand the impact of climate change on the North.
On their website, the Arctic Science Ministerial says holding the event in Asia for the first time is a chance to highlight the value of Arctic science research conducted by non-Arctic States.
The ministerials are separate from the work of the Arctic Council, the international forum made up of the world’s eight circumpolar nations and six Arctic Indigenous groups.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: How sub-Arctic seas are influencing the Arctic Ocean and what it’s telling us about climate change, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finland behind on sustainable development goals, Yle News
Greenland: COVID-19 delay, early ice melt challenge international Arctic science mission, The Associated Press
Iceland: Ice-free Arctic summers likely by 2050, even with climate action: study, Radio Canada International
Norway: Norway to expand network of electric car chargers across Arctic, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Record 38C temperature recorded in Arctic Siberia, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: January temperatures about 10°C above normal in parts of northern Sweden, says weather service, Radio Sweden
United States: Temperatures nearing all-time records in Southcentral Alaska, Alaska Public Media
