Presentation to the Arctic Council, 23 April 2015
THE ARCTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL Presentation to the Arctic Council Iqaluit, Canada, April 24, 2015 The AEC Executive Committee Tom Paddon Tero Vauraste Tara Sweeney Evgeny Ambrosov GETTING STARTED: 2013-2015 Minister Aglukkaq, Vince Rigby, Tom Paddon at AEC founding meeting, Sept 2014 The AEC was established during Canada’s Arctic Council chairmanship under the leadership of Leona Aglukkaq, Minister for the Arctic Council 2013-2015 Purpose • Independent • Arctic business-to-business forum, including a focus on indigenous business activities • Sharing of best practices, standards and innovative solutions to promote responsible economic development in the Arctic • Reflect accurately the significance of current Arctic business activity • Synthesis of Arctic business perspectives for consideration by the Arctic Council Results • • • • • • • • • • • 2 AEC assembly meetings: Fall 2014 & Spring 2015 Presentation to SAOs March 2015 Governance and operational structures established Secretariat under establishment 2-year work plan 35 active representatives and Executive Committee 30-40 outreach presentations around the world 40-50 meetings with business and government reps. 6 areas of focus integrated with 5 themes 3 thematic working groups Transparent and accessible Addressing Key Issues… Integrated Approach Areas of focus 1. Energy & natural resources 2. Infrastructure 3. Tourism 4. Fishing & marine resources 5. HR investment & capacity building 6. Traditional Arctic livelihoods Themes 1. Market connections 2. Public Private Partnership 3. Stable regulatory framework 4. Exchange between business and academia 5. Arctic stewardship: TK/SME/Corporate citizenship …in Working Groups • Arctic Stewardship Focus on traditional knowledge, SME development and the development of guidelines for corporate stewardship with an emphasis on being good business partners in the Arctic • Maritime Transportation Best practices to guide shipping in environmentally fragile locations to ensure the highest safety and quality standards in Arctic • Responsible Resource Development Enhancing sustainable mining, oil and gas exploration in the Arctic by promoting and sharing best practices Principle: Participation not limited to players from Arctic nations. AEC will gather relevant data from best sources LOOKING AHEAD: 2015-2017 www.arcticeconomiccouncil.com Supporting AC Priorities AEC work plan that aligns with U.S. Arctic Council priorities 2015-2017 in the following areas: Arctic Ocean & Communities Response operations Infrastructure: Marine and telecommunications Energy: Arctic Energy Summit Response Operations • Establish partnership with, and support work product from, Arctic Waterways Safety Commission • Search and Rescue (SAR) • Food security • Spill response • Situational Awareness • Vessel tracking Infrastructure: Marine • Increased maritime infrastructure pan-Arctic that also contributes to food and border security • Marine transportation, safety, protection and procedures • Catalogue economic development opportunities • Develop partnerships at the local, regional, federal and international levels to enhance tabletop, full-scale live exercises and SAR capabilities in the Arctic • Port development Infrastructure: Telecomm • Assess pan-Arctic capabilities and gaps • Catalogue economic development opportunities • Develop strategies for promoting communications infrastructure through economic development • Support Arctic Council SDWG Arctic-wide telecommunications infrastructure assessment by serving as the telecommunications experts group needed to meet this goal Energy • Collaborate with SDWG • Work with renewable and non-renewable energy sector experts in the Arctic to understand the energy needs of Arctic communities • Develop best practices guidelines for Arctic energy development • Make recommendations on how to address Arctic energy needs, including costs and sustainability Milestones and Reporting • April 2015: Selection of new AEC Chair • May 2015: Establishment of Secretariat in Tromsø • November 2015: AEC Board meeting • November 2015: WGs to have completed first series of meetings • March 2016: WG interim reports • April 2016: First full assembly under U.S. leadership • November 2016: Final drafts of WGs reports Contact us Website: www.arcticeconomiccouncil.com Twitter: @ArcticEcom Email: [email protected]
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