Arctic Council
The Arctic Council is a high-level, intergovernmental forum comprised of eight Member States (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States) and six Permanent Participants representing Arctic indigenous communities (Arctic Athabaskan Council, Aleut International Association, Gwich'in Council International, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North and the Saami Council). The Arctic Council provides a mechanism to address the common concerns and challenges faced by the Arctic governments and people of the Arctic.
In the last several years, the issue of climate impacts in the Arctic has been the subject of increased concern, as reflected in the Arctic Council's sponsorship, together with the International Arctic Science Committee, of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, the first comprehensive regional assessment of climate impacts. Arctic Council Member States are committed to exercising leadership within the Arctic and globally to address the sources and multiple Arctic impacts and consequences of climate change and ultraviolet radiation, in accordance with the UNFCCC, as well as the Barrow and Inari Arctic Council Ministerial declarations.