Presentation of the Goals and Programme of the Chairmanship of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Council in 2021–2023

Key conclusions

People, climate, investment – priorities for the Arctic Council.

“We have a large, rich programme for indigenous peoples, for the preservation of their culture, and implementing their collaborative projects. With regard to the issue of climate change and ecology within the framework of the Arctic Council, all participants will discuss measures and approaches to balancing economic development and the economic agenda. [...] We are represented on the board by the strongest companies implementing global projects. The priorities are the development of shipping and telecommunications infrastructure. In addition, we plan to create two scientific stations in Murmansk region and in Yamal. Only high technology can overcome the challenges in the Arctic”, said Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov.

“The population of the Arctic, including the indigenous peoples, are our top priority. Development must be accompanied by the growth of welfare, improved quality of life, increasing access to health services, education, and reducing social inequality. We attach great importance to the preservation of the identity and heritage of the minority indigenous peoples of the Arctic. [...] We will act in line with the goals and objectives formulated by the United Nations in connection with the announced Decade of Indigenous Peoples of the North, which will begin next year. [...] Social and economic development is a prerequisite for the well-being of people. The focus is issues of infrastructure development, transport, telecommunication systems”, said Ambassador at Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolay Korchunov.

“Russia’s priorities are aligned with those of Norway in the Arctic Council. [...] The Arctic should remain an attractive territory for life and work. [...] One of the most important tasks is attracting investment to the region”, said Consul General of the Kingdom of Norway in Saint Petersburg Dag Halvorsen.

Problems

In the Arctic, problems are related to the preservation of the traditional way of life of indigenous peoples, the ecology and infrastructure

“Environmental protection will be our agenda’s priority. The degradation of permafrost, climatic changes, in Russia, 65% of whose territory is permafrost – the very phenomenon of changing permafrost will be high on the agenda, we will do everything possible to minimize anthropogenic impact on nature, to preserve and restore the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, maintain the health of ecosystems, including marine, conservation of biodiversity, including migratory species of bird”, said Ambassador at Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolay Korchunov.

“Everything that is connected with the development of the Arctic must be considered in the context of the opinions of indigenous peoples, it is necessary to take into account their way of life, their life experience. For many centuries they have lived in difficult conditions. [...] It seems to me that in the near future there will be important developments in the Arctic Council in terms of the unification of resources, technology, an understanding of the fact that without unity, a team, which should take upon itself the challenge of what we together have done in recent times. [...] We have together successfully destroyed 50% of all life on the planet Earth. Taking the debt from our children, today we must attend to a very important point: the unification of resources, technologies, understanding that together we can solve the problem”, said First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Affairs; Chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation Vyacheslav Fetisov.

“The Russian Federation is seeing an increase in tourist interest, there are opportunities for growth, and the number of tourists in the Arctic has doubled in recent years. The growth in tourist traffic ahead could be significant. [...] However, there are problems with transport infrastructure”, said Head of the Department of State Tourism Projects and Tourism Safety in the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism), Elena Lysenkova.

Solutions

Implementation of joint projects in the field of nature conservation

“We consider it important not only to take into account the vulnerability of the Arctic to climate change, but also to use its natural energy transport potential. In turn, this will serve to fulfill the goals and objectives arising from the Paris Agreement, as well as the agenda for sustainable development until 2030, we plan to promote the widespread introduction of environmentally friendly technologies in all economy spheres. We plan to organize separate forums on climate change and the melting of permafrost in the Arctic, on pollution prevention at sea and on land”, said Ambassador at Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolay Korchunov.

“In Yakutsk, a decision was made in support of the draft decisions of the Arctic Council. Now, over its term, it has demonstrated its importance. [...] It is very important for us to implement collaborative projects, there are many of them, but time is short”, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Nuritdin Inamov said.

Improving quality of life in the Arctic

“Socio-economic development taking an important place on our agenda is a key prerequisite for improving quality of life, improving the well-being of life in the Arctic, including indigenous peoples. Here a key role will be played by sustainable economic development, and also at the focus of our attention will be the development of infrastructure, transport and telecommunications systems. [...] We will strengthen our interaction and coordination with the Arctic Economic Council in this area”, said Ambassador at Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolay Korchunov.

“We will develop cooperation with the Arctic Coast Guard Forum, the University of the Arctic and other relevant structures. Strengthen international cooperation. We will hold a meeting for the science ministers of the eight Arctic countries in September. We will develop and build the first sustainable scientific infrastructure project in the Arctic in the Yamal-Nenets Okrug – this is the project “Snowflake”. We are going to hold the fourth Ministerial Arctic conference of Science ministers”, said Ambassador at Large for Arctic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Nikolay Korchunov.

“The Arctic is an engine for economic growth. [...] Technology will make life in the north more comfortable. [...] It is possible to be connected to the entire world remotely. [...] Historically, both for Russia and the Soviet Union, the opening of the northern territories is of concern to people, [...] and now the people involved in this are fans of their business. [...] Growth in the economy, modern technologies and positive emotions will make the Arctic a much more attractive territory for living”, said Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov.

Use of nuclear energy, Northern Sea Route and tourism

“I wanted to speak about nuclear energy. The most reliable technologies, the most advanced in terms of security and, it appears, the only alternative for the further development of the Arctic regions, are associated with the use of this energy. We have successful experience with use of nuclear energy in the Arctic, I hope that we will be able to make clear how important and safe it is today,” First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism and Youth Affairs; Chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, Vyacheslav Fetisov.

“One of the priorities of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Council is the development of shipping along the Northern Sea Route. We will initiate a project for the development of sustainable shipping in the Arctic to implement together with all members of the Arctic Council. Sustainable shipping in the Arctic begins with all year-round navigation in the eastern direction of the Northern Sea Route. Now work already being carried in cooperation with the companies Novatek, Sovcomflot, the state company ROSATOM is for experimental super-early and super-late term flights taking place in the eastern direction. This year they made an especially super-late term voyage – the Christophe de Margerie LNG Tanker left the port of Sabbeta and passed the entire eastern part of the Northern Sea Route to the Chinese port of Jiangsu, as well as also completing a return voyage with the support of an icebreaker. As expected, the most important measurements were confirmed – the speed of movement and the time of arrival of the vessel at the desired place,” said Special Representative for the Development of the Arctic, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM, Deputy Chairman of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic, Vladimir Panov.

“All events are built around strengthening the position of sustainable tourism in the Arctic. [...] One important point is the ratification of the Arctic Tourism Declaration. The development of tourism in the Arctic is an incentive for the development of dialogue between the countries of the Arctic region, this dialogue, in turn, allows the development of the best ways, measures and opportunities to expand sustainable tourism in the Arctic at the highest level. The Declaration will be an extremely important element in our collaborative work. [...] Our initiative is for the formation of an international polar passport. [...] Its goal is to achieve hard-to-reach locations and safe conduct of tourism. [...] Itinerary projects have already been developed, and the concept of the polar passport is at the stage of completion”, said Head of the Department of State Tourism Projects and Tourism Safety in the Federal Agency for Tourism (Rostourism) Elena Lysenkova.

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