Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

DRAFT : 18 JANUARY 2017

Draft text for SAO Report describing SDWG achievements for 2015-2017 and describing the SDWG Work Plan for 2017-2019

Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

i.  Achievements 2015-2017

Mandate:

The mandate of the Sustainable Development program of the Arctic Council is to propose and adopt steps to be taken by the Arctic States to advance sustainable development in the Arctic. This includes pursuing opportunities to protect and enhance the environment and the economies, culturesand health of indigenous peoples and Arctic communities. The SDWG focuses on initiatives that provide practical knowledge and contribute to capacity building of indigenous peoples and Arctic communities to respond to local, regional and global challenges and opportunities.

Main Achievements 2015–2017

Further to paragraphs 8 to 21 of the Iqaluit Declaration 2015, in the period 2015 -2107, the SDWG continued its leadership in addressing the human dimensions of the Arctic within the Council, paying special attention to the impacts of rapid change and efforts to respond to resulting challenges and opportunities. Maintaining a focus on the three pillars of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental - the SDWG encourages the generation and acquisition of new knowledge, increasing capacity, innovative approaches to the unique challenges and opportunities emerging in the Arctic, and assessing and monitoring Arctic systems relevant to the human dimensions of the Arctic. SDWG makes recommendations and provides key information to SAOs and Ministers on sustainable development in the Arctic. In support of these goals, the SDWG main achievements for 2015-2017 include:

Assessments and Advancing the Arctic Knowledge Base:

Economy of the North 2015 (ECONOR III): This project, led by Norway, United States, Canada and the Saami Council, is the third such socio-economic assessment since 2006. ECONOR III has advanced the knowledge base on economic conditions and their ties to culture and health by harmonization of disparate circumpolar socio-economic data. This report provides one of the most comprehensive pictures of the development of both the money and subsistence economies throughout the Arctic region. It highlights the impact of climate and environmental change on key economic sectors and provides a time-series for understanding the development of Arctic societies. [weblink TBC]

Practical Tools and Innovative Solutions:

SDWG continued the Council’s long-term commitment to improving the health and mental wellness of Indigenous and Arctic communities through three projects which provide innovative tools and solutions to some of the region’s most challenging health issues. The SDWG’s Arctic Human Health Expert Group (AHHEG) provided substantial leadership and consultation on these efforts:

Reducing the Incidence of Suicide in Indigenous Groups - Strengths United through Networks (RISING SUN): This project was led by Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Norway, United States and ICC. It follows on the Canadian-initiated mental wellness project of 2013-2015 and the Hope and Resilience project carried out during the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Denmark, 2009-2011. Whereas the project during 2013-2015 focused on best practices from the literature and community-based interventions, [RISING SUN has created a common, science-based set of metrics to evaluate the key correlates and outcomes associated with suicide prevention interventions, further distilled into a toolkit.] [Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/gmh/risingsun/index.shtml ]

Operationalizing One Health in the Arctic: (Leads: Canada, United States.) The One Health project, led by Canada and the United States, is an approach to assess health issues at the interface between humans, animals, and ecosystems. The concept of One Health enjoys acceptance in certain areas of the circumpolar North and is reflective of the Indigenous approach to holistic systems and solutions. However, its implementation regionally has been spotty, leading possibly to sub-optimal responses to increasingly interconnected health risks. This project strived to operationalize a One Health approach in the Arctic by forging co-equal, all-inclusive collaborations across multiple scientific disciplines and Arctic communities to enhance resiliency of the Arctic inhabitants. The project outcomes include a survey to gauge awareness of and use of a One Health approach; a table-top exercise to explore system-based One Health response plans to certain scenarios; and a summary of findings and conclusions. The project has links to other Council subsidiary bodies, such as AMAP, ACAP, and CAFF. [Link to report TBC]

Improving Health in Arctic Communities through Safe and Affordable Access to Household Running Water and Sewer: Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH): The WASH, project led by the Kingdom of Demark and United States, is an important component for improved health, quality of life, and sustainable development in the Arctic as many Arctic and sub-Arctic residents do not have adequate in-home water and sanitation services. The project has a close relationship to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6: “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. The WASH project conducted a survey to document the status of water and sewer services and associated health outcomes. In addition, WASH examined climate-related vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies for community water and sewer systems and source water protection. The two conferences that were part of this initiative highlighted innovative strategies to improve access to Arctic appropriate WASH services, increase system efficiencies and adapt to environmental change that threatens existing systems. [WIHAH conference website: http://wihah2016.com/ ; Sisimiut Conference website: http://www.conferencemanager.dk/ArtekEvent2016 ]

Direct capacity building:

Recognizing its commitment to developing the Arctic’s most valuable resource, its people, the SDWG has development projects to directly improve capacity at the community level in key economic and social domains. These include:

Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA): The ARENA project, which is led by Canada, Finland, Iceland, United States, GCI, and AIA, strives to build Arctic community “energy champions” by combining Internet, classroom, laboratory, and field study learning opportunities. The inaugural cohort of 20 participants from around the circumpolar region have been selected and are participating in the three stage program (online preparation, on-site training, post program network/mentoring) based on a tailor-made curriculum, drawing from best practices established through the experience of the organizations operating in the Arctic, and throughout the world. Participants will bring back to their home areas knowledge, skills and tools that facilitate integrating clean energy technologies in their communities, and improve the management of fossil fuel resources used for power production and other local energy needs. [Website: http://arena.alaska.edu/ ]

EALLU – Arctic Indigenous Youth, Climate Change and Food Culture: EALLU is led by Norway with co-leads from Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Russia, United States, AIA and the Saami Council. The project focused on knowledge building and experience exchange in and between local indigenous/ reindeer herding societies in the Arctic, focusing on food culture and youth. The project promoted the vitality of, and increased awareness of, the region’s unique food traditions; bridged gaps between elder and youth generations; and contributed to improved mental and physical health of reindeer herding communities. EALLU conducted numerous workshops and seminars throughout the circumpolar region and has contributed to the recognition and development of traditional food culture. Key recommendations on food security and culture are summarized in its report, [video] and cookbook, sharing not only the ingredients of the food, but also its context and importance. [Website: http://reindeerherding.org/blog/projects-blog/eallu/]

Online information platforms:

To ensure the widest availability of key information to Arctic decision makers, SDWG has leveraged online tools to showcase data and best practices. Scientific, traditional and local knowledge are essential to improving economic and living conditions at the community, national and regional levels:

Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas (AREA): This project, led by Canada, United States and GCI, has developed an online tool designed to enhance knowledge of the best practices and local adaptation actions on Arctic renewable energy and energy efficiency. The initial site visualizes collected renewable energy supply and demand data to expand the end user experience and provide a tool for decision makers. TheThis next phase will include more qualitative work around best practices and community energy success stories, as well as continued work toward data collection. [Website: http://www.arcticrenewableenergy.org ]

Arctic Adaptation Exchange Portal: Building on a website developed under the Canadian Chairmanship (2013-2015), the Arctic Adaptation Exchange online portal has been enhanced to further the ongoing adaptation and resilience work of the Arctic Council; to include increased visualization tools and significant backend database work; and to ensure easy portability of the platform between hosts. The portal serves as a central information hub for communities, researchers, and decision-makers across a variety of sectors by bringing the Arctic Council's work on adaptation and resilience, along with other relevant resources, together in one place in support of information exchange and decision-making. [Website: http://arcticadaptationexchange.com/]

Meaningful Engagement of Indigenous Peoples and Communities in Marine Activities (MEMA) and MEMA Interactive Online Database. In collaboration on this PAME-led project, the SDWG’s Social, Economic and Cultural Expert Group (SECEG) contributed by providing insight into the human dimension of the Arctic through Indigenous perspectives and social scientist consultation. [Website: http://www.pame.is/index.php/projects/offshore-oil-and-gas/mema]

In addition, work has begun on building a network of experts for an SDWG project on Gender Equality in the Arctic II led by Iceland, Finland, Sweden and AIA. An interim report has been received from The Arctic as a Food Producing Region, a project led by Canada, Norway, ICC and GCI. Both of these projects will continue and are expected to conclude during the Finnish Chairmanship.

[Finally, the SDWG built on years of strategic planning efforts to draft and adopt a streamlined integrated strategic and implementation plan to guide its work into the medium to long term future in light of regional and global developments in relation to sustainable development in the Arctic.]

Deliverables for the Fairbanks Ministerial

·  The Arctic as a Food Producing Region: interim report; the project will deliver a final report in May 2019.

·  Arctic Indigenous Youth, Climate Change, & Food Culture (EALLU): cookbook of indigenous foods and short film on indigenous food culture with policy recommendations.

·  Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA): curriculum, webinar series, student cohort, first workshop completed by March 2017; the project will complete up to two additional workshops and deliver a final report during the Finnish Chairmanship.

·  Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas (AREA): beta version of online renewable energy resource maps; best practices and final report will be delivered during the Finnish Chairmanship.

·  The Economy of the North (ECONOR III): final assessment report with policy recommendations.

·  Improving Health through Safe & Affordable Access to Household Running Water & Sewer (WASH): Reports on the status of water and sewer services in the Arctic via survey results; summary of WIHAH and ARTEK Conferences with policy recommendations; Special publication on Arctic water and sewer systems.

·  Operationalizing a One Health Approach in the Arctic: One Health survey results report; Table top exercise in February 2017; One Health hubs and additional table top exercises will be ongoing. The project is expected to produce policy recommendations.

·  Reducing the Incidence of Suicide in Indigenous Groups- Strengths United through Networks (RISING SUN): Project report and toolkit of best practices for practitioners. Final workshop in March 2017. The project may produce policy recommendations.

·  Gender Equality in the Arctic II: establishment of the expert network

ii.  Work plan 2017-2019

Introduction

[Pursuant to its new Strategic Framework, the SDWG, through the lens of the human dimension, will encourage projects and initiatives that strengthen the resilience and well-being of the peoples of the Arctic and promote the three basic sustainable development pillars (social inclusion, economic development and environmental protection). ]

[This Work Plan for the period 2017 to 2019 has been developed taking into account the thematic priorities set out in the Strategic Framework and will be implemented in accordance with the principles and guidelines contained in the Framework and related operating documents.]

[The SDWG project proposal template requires the integration of traditional and local knowledge in all projects, as appropriate. Project budgets, start dates, meeting schedules, end dates and anticipated deliverables are contained in the project proposals. Co-leads and partners are listed as of the date of drafting.]

The projects identified in this work plan consist of both projects that have already been endorsed by the SDWG and projects that are under development for future SDWG review and possible endorsement. Additional project proposals may be developed within the scope of this work plan between 2017 and 2019.

A.  Continuing Projects

A number of SDWG projects commenced during the US Chairmanship 2015-2017 will continue into the Finnish Chairmanship under their current templates. The following SDWG projects in this category are summarized below in alphabetic order:

1.  The Arctic as a Food-Producing Region [Leads: Canada, Norway, GCI, ICC]

WG partners, Other Partners, Observers, Others: [To be confirmed. Current partners and collaborators include: Greenland Ministry of Fisheries and Hunting; Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO); University of Copenhagen]

Rationale and Overall objective: This project will a) assess the potential for increased production and added value of food from the Arctic; and b) aim to improve economic and social conditions of Arctic communities.

Main Activities and Interim Milestones include compiling regional and national inventories of commercial food producers; Project launch held during the Circumpolar Agriculture Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, October 6, 2016; Meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples/Permanent Participants; Value chain analysis based on the inventory of northern food producers; Legal analysis of commercial food production. Activities during 2017 will include participation at the Special Session at the International Congress of Arctic Social Science (ICASS IX), 8-12 June 2017 and the AMAP International Science Conference, 24-27 April 2017.

Timeline/Completion Date: The project will run through three stages organized by engagement, research and dissemination. Target completion date: March 2019.
Kiruna Vision Elements: The Arctic home and a prosperous Arctic

Finnish Chairmanship Priorities (if applicable): related to overarching theme of Agenda 2030

2.  Arctic Indigenous Youth, Climate Change and Food Culture (EALLU) [Leads: Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Norway, Russia, United States, AIA, Saami Council]