Ministerial Meeting on Arctic Science to Address International Cooperation in Northern Latitudes in St. Petersburg in 14–15 April

The 4^th Ministerial Meeting on the Development of Science in the Arctic (ASM4) will be held on 14–15 April in St. Petersburg as part of the plan of events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, which are managed by the Roscongress Foundation.

The main theme of the ministerial meeting will be the search for solutions to ensure the sustainable economic development of the region, international cooperation, and integration. As part of the chairmanship of the ASM, Russia is focusing on improving the living conditions of people who reside in the Arctic, ecology, adapting to climate change in high latitudes, as well as such issues as biodiversity conservation, the economic development of the Far North, and the development of tourism.

The programme on the first day of the meeting includes a recap of Russia’s chairmanship of the ASM4 as well as a ceremony to transfer the powers of the chairmanship from Russia to Norway. In particular, in preparation for the ministerial meeting, experts consolidated data about ongoing Arctic research and compiled a collection of scientific work results in the northern latitudes. The collection includes information about strategic and research challenges in the region, approaches to research funding by countries and organizations, major research initiatives, and the infrastructure used in research. The information is entered into a database and provided to government agencies and international organizations, the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, scientific and public organizations, as well as all interested parties as a tool for monitoring the situation in the region and establishing new partnerships.

During the second day of ASM4, speeches will be delivered by representatives of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, representatives of non-Arctic states, as well as scientific and educational organizations.

Representatives of foreign embassies and organizations as well as national and regional agencies that are in charge of coordinating scientific activities in the Arctic zone, as well as organizations of the Indigenous peoples of the Arctic have been invited to participate in the event. From the Russian side, the meeting will be attended by specialists and experts from the federal and regional authorities as well as representatives of the relevant agencies.

The events of the Ministerial Meeting on the Development of Science in the Arctic will be held in the historical Smolny Institute and on board the Krasin icebreaker. The Russian Ministry of Education and Science is coordinating the events during the ASM as part of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council, while the co-organizer is the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (St. Petersburg).

Russia is chairing the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of the chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance over the sustainable development of the Arctic. The comprehensive programme of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council aims to promote cooperation to improve the well-being and quality of life of the Arctic population, including the Indigenous peoples of the North, adapt the Arctic to the effects of climate change, conserve the biodiversity and unique ecosystems of the Arctic, ensure socioeconomic development, find solutions in matters concerning global energy and transport security, promote scientific cooperation in high latitudes, and strengthen international cooperation.