Arctic Economic Council, municipal group, support Denmark’s Arctic Council priorities
Two Arctic groups are voicing support for the Kingdom of Denmark’s Arctic Council priorities as it prepares to take over the chairmanship next month.
The Kingdom of Denmark’s five chairmanship priorities include Indigenous Peoples and Arctic communities, along with sustainable development and energy transition, oceans, climate change, and biodiversity.
In separate comments, the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) and the Arctic Mayors’ Forum (AMF) welcomed the Chairship’s focus calling the agenda a good fit for their own mandates.
“Indigenous Peoples and communities of the Arctic are an important thematic priority for the Arctic Mayors’ Forum,” Secretary General Patti Bruns said in a statement, adding the organization was particularly encouraged by the inclusion of youth.
“[We] look forward to supporting implementation of these priorities over the next two years,” she said.
The AEC, which brings together private sector actors from across the Arctic, pointed to the Chairship’s commitment to economic development and energy transition solutions. Executive Director Mads Qvist Frederiksen said it was encouraging to see a focus on sectors such as resource-based industries and emerging economic drivers in the Arctic.
“The thematic priority of Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions is obviously important for the Arctic Economic Council as the only pan-Arctic business membership organisation,” Frederiksen said.
“We are excited to see that the Chairship wants to dedicate efforts and attention towards sustainable economic development. It is good to see that sectors like offshore, mining and tourism is highlighted.”
Both the AEC and the AMF said local actors must play a central role in the Arctic’s development—and that national and regional strategies must reflect community-level expertise and experience.
“For the people of the Arctic, the waters with which they live are not only a critical means of transport, but also a significant source of wealth generation,” the two organizations said in a joint statement, adding that better emergency preparedness and environmental monitoring were essential for Arctic resilience.
The Kingdom of Denmark will officially take over the Arctic Council chairmanship from Norway on May 12 in a private, virtual-only event.
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