The program will set the agenda for Arctic Council priorities the next two years
On 11 April, the Kingdom of Denmark presented its upcoming Arctic Council Chairship program during an event in Nuuk, Greenland. On 12 May 2025, Norway will pass the gavel to the Kingdom of Denmark during the 14th meeting of the Arctic Council. This will be the second time the Kingdom of Denmark chairs the Arctic Council since its establishment, with its first Chairship term running from 2009-2011.
“The work in the Arctic Council is important not only for the Arctic States, but also for the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, for us here in Greenland and for the Kingdom,” said Kenneth Høegh, incoming Chair of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials, addressing the audience in Nuuk. “There are important tasks ahead of us, but I’m sure that when we work together within the Kingdom, we will achieve meaningful results for the Arctic.”
The Kingdom of Denmark identified five priority areas that they will focus on during their Chairship:
- Indigenous Peoples and Communities in the Arctic
- Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions
- Oceans
- Arctic Climate Change
- Biodiversity
Information about each priority can be found below. Read the full Chairship program and watch the event recording here.
Indigenous Peoples and Communities of the Arctic
The Kingdom of Denmark will continue the Arctic Council’s long focus on the human dimension of the Arctic, with a particular focus on strengthening the participation of Indigenous Peoples and the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge.
Key focus areas under this priority include medical preparedness and supply chains; youth engagement in the work of the Arctic Council; health and mental health of Indigenous Peoples; and gender equality in the Arctic.
Sustainable Economic Development and Energy Transition Solutions
People living in the Arctic have a natural and particular interest in activities occurring in the Arctic and how sustainable economic development is advanced in a balanced manner with respect for different Arctic ways of life. The Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship will therefore dedicate efforts and attention towards sustainable economic development, with a goal of ensuring that initiatives in this field are being led by the Peoples of the Arctic for the benefit of all Arctic inhabitants with a particular focus on Indigenous Peoples.
The Chairship will emphasize connectivity with a focus on communication, transport business and trade; improving knowledge on the blue bioeconomy; and energy transition solutions.
Oceans
The Arctic seas are of immense importance for the people in the Arctic, and in particular Indigenous Peoples and their communities who depend on the health of the sea for their livelihoods and way of life. Ongoing warming and the reduction of sea ice require enhanced monitoring developments to identify the drivers of change thereby enhancing predictability and effective management of the changing marine environment.
During its Chairship, the Kingdom of Denmark will organize an international Ocean conference dedicated to Sub Arctic and High Arctic connectivity emphasizing implications for biodiversity and migrating species, climate change impacts, pollutant transport and the movement of species between regions. The conference will also highlight the significance of sustainable management practices for the Arctic marine environment, reinforcing the importance of responsible Arctic marine monitoring and governance.
In addition to the conference, the Kingdom will place focus on area-based conservation measures and spatial planning tools; threats to Arctic Marine Ecosystems and Indigenous Peoples; strengthening cooperation on emergency preparedness and shipping in the Arctic; underwater noise in the Arctic; and marine litter and microplastics.
Climate Change in the Arctic
Climate change in the Arctic is happening at an unprecedented rate with the average temperature increasing three times as much as the global average. As a result, Arctic inhabitants are among the first to experience the profound impacts of climate change firsthand. Climate change significantly impacts Indigenous Peoples and their communities in the Arctic, affecting their environment, livelihoods, cultural practices and overall wellbeing.
The Chairship will highlight climate change trends and address the impacts of climate change on sustainable development in the Arctic. In addition, the Kingdom will support increased collaboration among and between Arctic Council and Observer States to ensure that Arctic circumstances, including those of Arctic Indigenous Peoples, are brought to bear in global negotiations to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Chairship will also continue important work on black carbon and methane.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity has been a priority for the Arctic Council since its establishment. During its Chairship, the Kingdom will continue this commitment in line with the Arctic Council Strategic Plan 2021-2030’s 2nd goal: “We will emphasize collaboration across the Arctic Region to monitor and assess the status and trends regarding Arctic biodiversity and ecosystems enabling us to continue to detect and predict changes and provide the best available scientific data and Indigenous Knowledge for governance.”
Under the biodiversity priority, the Kingdom of Denmark will focus on actions for Arctic biodiversity; the triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss); strengthening the Arctic Council’s Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP); enhancing knowledge to address Arctic invasive alien species; and data policy principles and improved access to and use of data.