A Brief History of the Arctic Council - Infographic

The Arctic Council celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016. This photo, taken from March of that year, shows delegates standing in the shape of the number “20” at the Senior Arctic Officials meeting that took place in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo: Arctic Council Secretariat / Linnea Nordström

Ever since it came onto the world stage in 1996, the Arctic Council has been a prominent part of the Arctic region’s ever-growing web of organizations and cooperative networks. With much of its work focusing on the well-being of the region’s residents as well as environmental protection, as an international forum, it has enabled collaboration and discussion between Arctic Indigenous peoples, scientists from around the world, and the governments of the eight Arctic states on some of the most important issues facing the Arctic.

This infographic designed by Jennifer Cook offers a glimpse into the history of the Arctic Council, telling a story of its achievements and its relationship with the rest of the world along the way. As part of the vision held by many to transform the region into a zone of peace and prosperity, the Arctic Council would not have become what it is today without the contributions of many, including the dedicated efforts of Indigenous leadership. With the world being even more interdependent than it was at the signing of the Ottawa Declaration and with more eyes turning northwards with each year, the Arctic region itself, alongside international cooperation, also steadily grows in importance.