Arctic Council

What Arctic Council does

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum established by the Ottawa Declaration on September 19, 1996, that promotes cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the eight Arctic States (Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States), six Indigenous Peoples' organizations holding Permanent Participant status (Aleut International Association, Arctic Athabaskan Council, Gwich'in Council, Inuit Circumpolar Council, RAIPON, Saami Council), and 38 Observers. Its work is delivered through six Working Groups — ACAP, AMAP, CAFF, EPPR, PAME, and SDWG — and Expert Groups that conduct scientific assessments, monitoring, and policy recommendations on common Arctic issues including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollutants, ocean and maritime safety, and sustainable development for Arctic communities.

The Council's product portfolio is composed primarily of research initiatives, scientific assessments, and open data platforms rather than commercial software. Notable assets include the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP), the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS), the Arctic Ship Traffic Data (ASTD) system, the Circumpolar Oil Spill Response Viability Analysis (COSRVA), the Arctic Marine Risk Assessment tool, and the Open Access Repository (oaarchive.arctic-council.org). It also publishes the annual Pathways magazine, hosts the "This Way Up" podcast, and convenes Ministerial Meetings, Senior Arctic Official meetings, and topical summits (e.g., Arctic Biodiversity Summit 2027, Ocean Connectivity Conference 2026, Cold Seas Critical Gaps 2026, Arctic Youth Conference 2027). At any given time, close to 100 projects and initiatives are active across its subsidiary bodies.

The Council is a non-profit funded entirely by voluntary contributions from its eight member states, with no commercial pricing model, no external investors, and no parent organization. The Arctic Council Secretariat, headquartered at the Fram Centre in Tromsø, Norway, employs 11-50 staff and provides administrative support to the rotating chairship, currently held by the Kingdom of Denmark (2025-2027). Decisions are taken by consensus among the eight Arctic States with full consultation of Permanent Participants.

Name

Arctic Council

Legal name

Arctic Council

Website

https://arctic-council.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum, established in 1996, that promotes cooperation among eight Arctic States, six Indigenous Permanent Participants, and 38 Observers on climate, biodiversity, ocean, and sustainable development issues through six Working Groups and approximately 100 active projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intergovernmental Cooperation and Environmental Governance

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Arctic intergovernmental cooperation
• Environmental assessment policy
• Biodiversity monitoring programs
• Indigenous Peoples engagement
• Arctic shipping safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Stakkevollan

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the eight Arctic States, Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues. It operates through six Working Groups (ACAP, AMAP, CAFF, EPPR, PAME, SDWG) that conduct assessments, monitoring, and policy recommendations on Arctic environmental, social, and sustainable development issues, supported by approximately 100 ongoing projects and initiatives.

Product overview

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum (not a commercial product company) that promotes cooperation among Arctic States and Indigenous Peoples. Its work is organized through approximately 100 projects and initiatives carried out by six Working Groups (ACAP, AMAP, CAFF, EPPR, PAME, SDWG). These include biodiversity monitoring programs (CBMP), environmental databases (Arctic Biodiversity Data Service, Arctic Ship Traffic Data), shipping safety initiatives, climate and pollutant assessments, and community resilience projects. The Council also produces publications (Pathways magazine), maintains an open-access document repository, and organizes conferences and summits. The product portfolio consists primarily of research initiatives, data platforms, and knowledge-sharing resources rather than commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) An initiative building flyway cooperation to support Arctic-breeding birds across the world.
• Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) A program that coordinates monitoring of Arctic biodiversity across multiple ecosystems to detect changes and inform conservation.
• Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS) An online tool to house, collect, display and search for Arctic biodiversity related data, maps and graphics for decision making.
• Arctic Ship Traffic Data (ASTD) A database collecting and distributing accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information on shipping activities in the Arctic.
• Arctic Marine Risk Assessment A common approach to marine risk assessment in the Arctic region developed by the EPPR Working Group.
• Circumpolar Oil Spill Response Viability Analysis (COSRVA) A project investigating the potential of different oil spill response systems for the Arctic marine environment.
• Pathways: The Arctic Council Magazine The official magazine of the Arctic Council featuring stories, research, and updates on Arctic affairs.
• Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Marine Activities (MEMA) A guideline compiling and analyzing existing documents on engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in marine activities.
• Arctic Black Carbon Case Studies Platform An online platform showcasing case studies on how existing technologies successfully reduce black carbon emissions relevant to the Arctic.
• Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum A forum for sharing best practices and information related to Arctic shipping safety and environmental protection.
• Circumpolar Local Environmental Observer Network (CLEO) A network enabling local environmental observers to document and share observations about environmental changes in the Arctic.
• Actions for Arctic Biodiversity A strategic framework for implementing actions to conserve and sustainably use Arctic biodiversity (2025-2035).
• Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter: Implementation Implementation of measures to address marine litter in the Arctic marine environment.
• Gender Equality in the Arctic (GEA) II A project addressing gender equality issues within Arctic communities and governance.
• The Tundra Project An initiative focused on monitoring and understanding changes in Arctic tundra ecosystems.
• Protection from Invasive Species A project addressing the prevention and management of invasive species in the Arctic region.
• The One Arctic, One Health Project An initiative launched by the Sustainable Development Working Group to strengthen circumpolar networks for managing disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

Quantifiable outcome

• The number of unique ships entering the Arctic Polar Code area increased by 37% between 2013 and 2024, with total distance sailed rising by 108%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of the Arctic (UArctic)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026The Ocean Connectivity Conference (May 26-28, 2026) was organized in partnership with UArctic and embedded within UArctic Congress 2026, hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands.
• Nordic Council of MinisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Nordic Council of Ministers supports the Arctic Biodiversity Summit 2027 as a key supporter. This partnership aligns with the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship priorities and leverages existing Nordic cooperation frameworks.
• Global Affairs CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for the Arctic Youth Conference 2027, contributing to youth engagement initiatives under the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship.
• Nordic Council of MinisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs an Observer to the Arctic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers collaborates on Arctic issues, particularly relevant during the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship which includes Greenland and Faroe Islands.
• Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAFF is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council consisting of National Representatives from the eight member states and Indigenous Peoples' organizations as Permanent Participants.
• Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAME is the focal point for the Council's work on the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment, coordinating shipping, marine pollution, and ecosystem-based management activities.
• Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMAP monitors and assesses pollution and climate change issues in the Arctic, producing independent, science-based and peer-reviewed assessments for policy decision-making.
• Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPPR contributes to the prevention, preparedness and response to environmental emergencies, accidents and search and rescue in the Arctic, addressing gaps and collaborating with relevant partners.
• Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP) Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACAP contributes to efforts to reduce environmental risks and prevent pollution of the Arctic environment, encouraging national actions to reduce emissions and releases of pollutants.
• Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDWG focuses on the human dimension of the Arctic, aiming to preserve and improve environmental, socio-economic, and health conditions for Arctic Indigenous Peoples and communities.
• University of the Faroe IslandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the UArctic Congress 2026 and Ocean Connectivity Conference in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, working in collaboration with the Faroe Marine Research Institute.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Nordic Council of Ministers: The Nordic Council of Ministers is an official intergovernmental body for regional cooperation among Nordic governments. Its policy coordination, sustainability work, and engagement with regional institutions overlap with the Arctic Council's cooperation and recommendation functions.
• Barents Euro-Arctic Council: The Barents Euro-Arctic Council is an intergovernmental cooperation forum for the Barents and Euro-Arctic region. It is comparable through its member-state engagement, sustainable-development mandate, and coordination across environmental, Indigenous, and regional issues.
• North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission: The North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission is an intergovernmental body that coordinates research and management of marine mammals among member countries. It shares the Council's regional, science-based approach to environmental stewardship and policy cooperation.
• Northern Forum: The Northern Forum is a regional organization linking subnational northern governments and communities across the Arctic and subarctic. It is comparable in promoting circumpolar cooperation and incorporating regional and Indigenous perspectives into policy dialogue.

Direct peers

• Antarctic Treaty System: The Antarctic Treaty System is the closest structural analogue: an intergovernmental polar forum that coordinates international cooperation, environmental protection, scientific work, and policy decisions across a distinct geographic region.

Emerging players

• European Polar Board: The European Polar Board provides strategic coordination and advice for European polar research and research infrastructure. It is comparable to the Arctic Council's role in convening experts, coordinating cross-border research, and translating scientific knowledge into policy-relevant work.
• Arctic Economic Council: The Arctic Economic Council is an Arctic business forum focused on sustainable economic development and cross-border cooperation. It addresses a narrower commercial dimension of the same stakeholder ecosystem served by the Arctic Council.
• International Arctic Science Committee: The International Arctic Science Committee coordinates multinational Arctic research and facilitates collaboration among scientists and institutions. It is comparable to the Council's science-oriented working groups, expert networks, monitoring, assessments, and knowledge-sharing role.

Broad incumbents

• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO coordinates marine science, observations, data, warning systems, and services among governments. It is comparable to the Council's ocean monitoring, marine risk assessment, pollution response, and shared-data functions.
• United Nations Environment Programme: The United Nations Environment Programme is a global environmental authority that sets the environmental agenda and produces assessments, policy guidance, and international cooperation programs. It overlaps with the Arctic Council's environmental monitoring, advocacy, and policy-recommendation activities at a much broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arcticcouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheArcticCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/arcticcouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcticcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arctic-council-secretariat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arctic Council