At the 12th Arctic Council Ministerial meeting held in Reykjavik, Iceland, the United States today signed on to the 2021 joint declaration that among other things reaffirms the Arctic Council’s commitment to maintain peace, stability, and constructive cooperation in the Arctic region, joining Arctic Council members Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden in endorsing the declaration.
The declaration includes mention of the importance of achieving the Paris Agreement and UN sustainable development goals, ensuring sustainable and transparent economic activities as the Arctic becomes more accessible, protecting the Arctic environment, promoting nature-based solutions such as protected areas and an ecosystem approach to management, conserving Arctic biodiversity, and contributing to the Convention on Biological Diversity as appropriate.
In remarks before the Council, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted the U.S. commitment to “advancing a peaceful Arctic region where cooperation prevails on climate, the environment, science and safety, and where sustainable economic development benefits the people of the region themselves.”
