The Ministers representing the eight Arctic States (Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark - represented by Ministers of Denmark, Faroe Islands and Greenland -, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States), fifteen further States (Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom), and the representative of the European Union, joined by representatives of six Arctic Indigenous Peoples Organisations (Aleut International Association, Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar Council, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Saami Council), gathered to further enhance collaborative science efforts in the Arctic.
The 2nd Arctic Science Ministerial (https://www.arcticscienceministerial.org/en/) was held Friday Oct 26, 2018 in Berlin. Just prior to the Ministerial meeting (Thursday, Oct 25, 2018), a Science Forum was convened to solicit input from scientists and Indigenous peoples from around the world to guide the actions of the Ministers. See https://www.arcticscienceministerial.org/en/arctic-science-forum-1740.html
Prior to the ASM-2 Science Forum, the Arctic Observing Summit Executive Committee, the EU Joint Research Centre and SAON had organized a side meeting with the title Towards a roadmap for coordinated Arctic Observing (https://www.arcticscienceministerial.org/files/181008_Side_event_SAON_content.pdf ) approximately 80 people attended.
The Arctic Science Forum held the day before the Ministerial meeting, had the same three themes as the Ministerial Meeting, which were the backbone of the Joint Statement of the Arctic Science Ministerial:
- Strengthening, Integrating and Sustaining Arctic Observations, Facilitating Access to Arctic Data, and Sharing Arctic Research Infrastructure
- Understanding Regional and Global Dynamics of Arctic Changes
- Assessing Vulnerability and Building Resilience of Arctic Environments and Societies
The main objectives of the Ministerial were to release a Joint Statement, issue the report on initiatives taken over the preceding 2 years and an updated list of deliverables expected to generate results over the next few years. The Joint Statement of Ministers was signed on 26 October 2018 made many bold and explicit statements to inhance Arctic research. https://www.arcticscienceministerial.org/files/ASM2_Joint_Statement.pdf
The most prominant and important outcome of the Ministerial is the Joint Statement. The objectives agreed to by all nations are important and ambitious tasks that IASC should assist and promote.