The Government of Canada, the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Government of the Republic of Finland, the Government of Iceland, the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”),
Recognizing the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and constructive cooperation in the Arctic;
Recognizing the importance of the sustainable use of resources, economic development, human health, and environmental protection;
Reiterating the urgent need for increased actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
Emphasizing the importance of using the best available knowledge for decision-making;
Noting the importance of international scientific cooperation in that regard;
Fully taking into account the relevant provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in particular the provisions in Part XIII on marine scientific research as they relate to promoting and facilitating the development and conduct of marine scientific research for peaceful purposes;
Recalling the Kiruna Declaration on the occasion of the Eighth Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council held in May 2013 and the Iqaluit Declaration on the occasion of the Ninth Ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council held in April 2015;
Recognizing the ongoing development of the International Polar Partnership Initiative as determined by the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization;
Recognizing the significance of the research priorities as determined by the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning;
Recognizing the efforts of the Arctic Council and its subsidiary bodies;
Recognizing the significant scientific expertise and invaluable contributions to scientific activities being made by non-Parties and specifically by the Arctic Council Permanent Participants and Arctic Council Observers;
Recognizing the substantial benefit gained from the financial and other investments by the Arctic States and other nations in the International Polar Year and its outcomes, including in particular new scientific knowledge, infrastructure and technologies for observation and analysis;
Recognizing the excellent existing scientific cooperation already under way in many organizations and initiatives, such as the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks, the International Arctic Science Committee, the University of the Arctic, the Forum of Arctic Research Operators, the International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, the Pacific Arctic Group, the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, indigenous knowledge institutions, the International Arctic Social Sciences Association, and many others; and
Desiring to contribute to and build upon existing cooperation and make efforts to develop and expand international Arctic scientific cooperation,
Have agreed as follows:
AGREEMENT AREA MAP