The Origins of the Arctic Council, Describe the origins of the Arctic Council

The Origins of the Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum that was established in 1996 to promote cooperation and coordination among the countries that have an interest in the Arctic region. This includes the eight Arctic states: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (Jerry, 2019). The Arctic Council was formed in response to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into effect in1994. This convention established a legal framework for the resolution of disputes regarding undersea resources and the protection of the environment in the Arctic region. The impetus for the creation of the Arctic Council was the increased economic and political interest in the Arctic region. This interest was driven by the melting of sea ice and the possibility of exploiting the natural resources of the region. The Arctic Council has since become an important platform for the discussion of issues related to the Arctic region, such as climate change, sustainable development, and the protection of the environment. The first meeting of the Arctic Council was held in Ottawa, Canada, in 1996 (Jerry, 2019). At this meeting, the Arctic countries signed the Ottawa Declaration, which outlined the Council’s mandate and purpose. The Council has grown in importance since then and has held several meetings to discuss a wide… Cont…