Global warming key topic for Arctic Council meeting

The premiers of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and Yukon's deputy premier, have departed for Tromsø, Norway, host city of the Arctic Council's biennial ministerial meeting.

Officials will gather Wednesday for talks on subjects ranging from oil and gas exploration and shipping, to the impact of global warming.

On Tuesday, there will be a meeting about global ice melting, co-chaired by former U.S. vice-president Al Gore and council chair Jonas Gahr Stoere, the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs.

Climate change is the main topic, but ministers will also approve a declaration that will guide the work of the Arctic Council for the next two years.

In a speech earlier this month, Stoere said some of the fastest and largest climate changes are taking place in the polar regions.

He said meeting the challenges of climate change is "a vital area of co-operation" for the Arctic Council."

About 300 delegates are expected, representing eight countries and six aboriginal organizations.

Among the member states are Canada, Denmark — including Greenland and the Faroe Islands — Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

Council meetings are also open to Arctic organizations of indigenous peoples.