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Dispatching Experts to International Arctic meetings and ArCS II’s Contribution

*This article was originally published in ArCS II News Letter No.3 (December 2021).

In parallel with promoting research activities in the Arctic region, ArCS II (Arctic Challenge for Sustainability) has been working on “Strategic Dissemination of Information on the outcomes of Arctic research” as one of Priority Subjects of the project. One of its initiatives is “Dispatch of Experts and Provision of Information to/Dialog with Policymakers”. This aims to dispatch Japanese experts to international meetings on Arctic issues to contribute them with the results of ArCS II research, as well as to collect the latest information on the Arctic region and provide feedback to policymakers and other stakeholders in Japan.

There are two main types of international meetings on Arctic issues. One covers intergovernmental groups such as the Arctic Council (AC), an organization that promotes cooperation, harmonization, and exchange on issues common to Arctic countries, including sustainable development and environmental protection. Japan is allowed to participate as an observer at AC meetings. The AC has established six working groups (WGs) to discuss common issues in the Arctic. Each WG convenes meetings of experts to prepare and publish scientific assessments, guidelines, and a variety of other documents and reports. Japanese Arctic researchers also participate in WG meetings to make presentations on Japanese research activities and help prepare reports.

The other type is a group of non-governmental organizations: scientific meetings that support research and observation activities, for example, as well as various meetings that aim to deepen the understanding of the Arctic. Japanese experts participate in a wide range of meetings, ranging from gatherings of scientists held by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to the Arctic Circle, an assembly for information exchange about politics and business in the Arctic.

1st Report Session on Expert Participation in International meetings

We hold debrief meetings for those involved to provide stakeholders in Japan with information obtained by the experts dispatched to international meetings.

On September 6, 2021, the first Report Session on Expert Participation was held online for ministries and agencies in charge of Arctic policies, with 32 participants from MEXT, relevant ministries and agencies, and ArCS II project staffers.

At the meeting, researchers who had attended sessions of the AC’s working groups reported on trends of working group activities and their latest developments, allowing participants to share the information. One notable topic of the meeting was that the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), one of the AC working groups, published five summaries for policymakers in May. A researcher participating in AMAP regularly introduced these summaries along with the fact that ArCS II researchers prepared and published Japanese translations of five summaries.

The researcher briefed that these summaries very concisely tell us the situation of Arctic environment that changes rapidly, its impact on the human community, and the challenging issues to be addressed.

Through dispatch of experts to international meetings held in the Arctic, ArCS II will continue to enhance Japan’s international presence in the Arctic region and contribute to formulating future Arctic policies.

AMAP Summaries for Policy-makers

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) is one of the working groups of the Arctic Council (AC). Established in 1991, AMAP has been monitoring problems associated with Arctic pollution and climate change, along with assessing their prevailing conditions. On May 20, 2021, AMAP made recommendations for policymakers in relevant areas based on the current state of the Arctic and the latest scientific knowledge.

Cover of Japanese version of “Arctic Climate Change Update 2021”, one of AMAP Summaries for Policy-makers

ArCS II has compiled Japanese versions of five summaries, supervised by experts in relevant fields (climate change, mercury and other persistent organic pollutants, air pollutants, and human health), aiming to raise the awareness of AMAP activities and the information in the summaries among Japanese audiences. The AMAP website has published the original version and accompanying Japanese version of each summary on its PUBLICATIONS page .