River in Yakutia, Russia

SM Kharitonov

“The Forum is of utmost strategic importance for the whole global community. Russia’s northern Arctic territories have a significant historical, political and economic impact on the country’s development. Their potential can and should be efficiently used a foundation for stabilizing economic processes in the country”.

 

Nikolay Kharitonov,

Chairman of the Committee for Regional Policy and Issues of the North and Far East, State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

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The Sustainable Development Working Group will hold its fourth regular meeting of the Finnish Chairmanship in Kemi, Finland on 04-06 February 2019. This meeting will include an executive meeting, review and approval of SDWG project deliverables for ministerial 2019, approval of new projects and a follow-up work plan.

Preliminarily, the total number of participants will reach 63. The meeting will be attended by member countries of the working group, regular participants, observers and many others.

The Northern Forum will be represented at the event by a Coordinator in the International Project collaboration of Regional Council of Lapland Maiju Jolma-Taylor.

To date the Northern Forum presents within the framework of the SDWG such projects as “International Arctic School”, “Human in the Arctic” and “Arctic Children – Preschool Education and Smooth Transition to School”

General Information

The Sustainable Development Working Group is one of six working groups of the Arctic Council. Terms of Reference for the SDWG were formally adopted at the Arctic Council Ministers’ Meeting in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada in September 1998. The goal of the Sustainable Development program of the Arctic Council is to propose and adopt steps to be taken by the Arctic States to advance sustainable development in the Arctic.  This includes pursuing opportunities to protect and enhance the environment and the economies, culture and health of indigenous peoples and Arctic communities. The guiding tenet running throughout the work of the SDWG is to pursue initiatives that provide practical knowledge and contribute to building the capacity of indigenous peoples and Arctic communities to respond to the challenges and benefits from the opportunities in the Arctic region.

Major Areas of SDWG Activity:

Since its inception, the SDWG has carried out approximately 65 projects and activities.  Consistent with the overall work and priorities of the Arctic Council, this work generally falls into six broad thematic areas:

  • • Arctic Human Health issues and the well being of people living in the Arctic. Prevention and control of disease and injuries, as well as the long term monitoring of the impact of pollution and climate change, are critical to human health and Sustainable Development.
  • • Sustainable economic activities and increasing community prosperity, to better understand human influences on the Arctic environment and the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous Peoples and Arctic communities. Arctic communities must have an appropriate economic base to ensure their survival, including environmentally-friendly economic activity in the energy sector.
  • • Education and cultural heritage, including Indigenous Languages. These are a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development, capacity building and the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and other Arctic residents.
  • • Management of natural, including living, resources. This must be based on sound science and traditional and local knowledge to maintain and develop health, culture and the sustainability of local communities in the Arctic.
  • • Adaptation to Climate Change: To strengthen the work of the Council by reducing vulnerability and implementing adaptation initiatives related to climate change in the Arctic, including practical community-based actions.
  • • Infrastructure development. This enhances economic growth and can contribute to the quality of life of Arctic people.

Source: https://www.sdwg.org/activities/sdwg/

28 Dec 2024
The Northern Forum attended the opening ceremony of the Tattinsky Lyceum's new building

 

Today, 28 December, the Northern Forum took part in the opening ceremony of the new building of the A.E. Mordinov Tattinsky Lyceum in the village of Ytyk-Kyuel in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

News
27 Dec 2024
Senator and former head of Yakutia Egor Borisov became a Goodwill Ambassador of the Northern Forum

 

Member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation - representative of the executive branch of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Deputy Chairman of the Federation [ ... ]

Northern Forum
27 Dec 2024
Vladimir Vasiliev took part in Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad Meeting

 

On Thursday, 26 December, Vladimir Vasiliev, Executive Director of the Northern Forum, took part in a meeting of the Commission on Compatriots Living Abroad under the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk [ ... ]

News
27 Dec 2024
Northern Forum calls for joint response to man-made disaster

 

As a result of the disaster of two tankers in the Black Sea, there is an emergency situation in the sea and on the coast.

News
27 Dec 2024
Restart Mentors Union in search of volunteers for regional resource centres

 

On Wednesday, 25 December, a productive meeting was held with Tatiana Menshikova, Chair of the Northern Forum's Arctic Tourism Working Group.

News
23 Dec 2024
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025!

News

Upcoming Events

Disclaimer

The events list is provided as an non-parcial overview of upcoming events in and about the Arctic and the North, for the interest and benefit of all stakeholders.
The events listed and their administration are the responsibility of the individual events organisers.
All content on the events website, a link may be provided to through this events calendar, is the sole responsibility of the individual organiser.

  

Members of the Northern Forum

5th Northern Sustainable Development Forum

September 24-27, 2024
Yakutsk, Russia

Board of Governors
Regional Coordinators Committee (RCC)
Business Partners
Goodwill Ambassadors
Northern Youth Forum

Northern Youth Forum

The Northern Youth Forum (NYF) is a youth wing of the Northern Forum, consisting of representatives of young people from the age of 16 to 40 years.

Mission of the NYF is to strengthen the spirit of trust and cooperation between young representatives of Northern regions and countries at the stage of personal and professional views’ formation.

Goal of the NYF is to promote the interests and views of young people in solving the problems facing the Northern Forum by using the potential of international youth cooperation.