With the advent of the Finnish Chairmanship in May of 2017, René Söderman assumed the role of Senior Arctic Official for Finland, while Aleksi Härkönen took on the role of SAO Chair. In this interview, get to know René Söderman's background and thoughts on his work with Arctic cooperation writ large.

The Arctic Council recently welcomed Ambassador Björn Lyrvall as the new Senior Arctic Official for Sweden. In this interview, get to know Ambassador Lyrvall's background and what he sees as the prospects and challenges for the Arctic Council in the months and years ahead.

The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the biodiversity Working Group of the Arctic Council, is seeking individuals and organizations to provide abstracts, organize sessions and submit posters that will encourage a dialogue on Arctic biodiversity...

The ACAP workshop Sharing Approaches on Community Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Within Arctic Indigenous Communities was held in Nome, Alaska, September 20- 22, 2016. One outcomes from the workshop was to develop a clearinghouse for information on waste management as a next step for further disseminating tools and resources in the Arctic region. Encouraging community connections and greater information sharing on waste management issues plays a potentially vital role in helping to protect and preserve the environment. Clean water and clean air Arctic communities are critical components to a healthy life, especially because living off the land is vital to survival.

At the meeting just concluded in Oulu, Finland, the Arctic Council addressed overarching issues for the region like pollution prevention and education. 

The Arctic Council hosted "The global implications of a rapidly-changing Arctic" at COP23 in Bonn. Monday, 6 November, 13:15-14:45 in the Bonn Zone.