Arctic Council

On May 15th, 2013, Canada took over the rotating two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council from Sweden at one of the most complex times in the organization’s history.

The changing Arctic climate has opened up the North for business and resource development at the same time that indigenous communities in the Arctic are grappling with the effects the altered environment is having on their traditional way of life.

While 17 years ago, Arctic Council meetings and discussions merited little of the world’s attention, this year, countries as diverse as China, South Korea and the European Union and clamouring for permanent observer status at the organization.

Here, through stories, feature interviews and blogs, Eye on the Arctic takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the organization and what it all might mean for those living in the North.