Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is an international forum that enables cooperation and, coordination across Arctic:

• states
• Indigenous Peoples
• communities

The organization works on common issues such as sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

The Canadian Coast Guard is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Council's Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response working group until 2025. We previously served as the working group's Chair from 2021 to 2023. The Canadian Coast Guard also continues to serve as the Head of the Canadian delegation to Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response working group.

This working group aims to prevent and respond to events in the Arctic, such as:

• environmental emergencies
• search and rescue incidents
• natural and manmade disasters
• accidents

It does this by:

• preparing strategies, guidance, and tools
• sharing information and best practices
• organizing international response exercises and training

This working group also maintains and implements two international agreements:

• Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic (2013)
• Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic (2011)