Arctic Resilience Action Framework (ARAF)

The Arctic Council Ministers adopted the Arctic Resilience Action Framework (ARAF) in the Fairbanks Declaration (May, 2017). The initial phase of ARAF implementation is occurring in the SDWG, in coordination with all other Working Group Secretariats. The ARAF provides the Arctic Council with a common frame of reference for building resilience in the Arctic region. It can provide a common set of priorities for the Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups, and Observers. By adopting the ARAF, the Arctic Council has agreed to track its existing activities that address the ARAF priorities. Implementation of the ARAF aims to accomplish the following objectives:

• Collect, share and inspire action by the Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Working Groups around the four ARAF priorities.
• Share best practices for building resilience in the region.
• Identify ways to measure progress towards building resilience in the region, and identify additional gaps and challenges.

To achieve these Objectives, the following actions are being taken during the 2017-2019 period:

• Collecting and sharing actions that Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups, and Observers are taking (or will take) that address the ARAF priorities.
• Completing an inventory of existing and emerging measurement protocols – including self-assessment protocols – as well as existing and emerging indicators, in order to measure and compare progress to build Arctic resilience over space and time.
• Convening an Arctic Resilience Forum in Rovaniemi, Finland on 10–11 September 2018 as part of the programme of Finland’s Chairmanship in the Arctic Council. The Forum will provide an opportunity to share best practices and identify additional challenges to building resilience. In addition the aim of the Forum is to create conditions to strengthen resilience and adaptability of different stakeholders in the Arctic region.

Other Links:

• Report of the Arctic Resilience Forum
• Examples of Building Resilience across the Arctic Region
• Arctic Resilience Action Framework Implementation Plan 2017-2019

• The Arctic Resilience Report, 2016
• Arctic Resilience Assessment: synthesis for Arctic leaders 2017
• Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic, (AACA Part C) (2013)
  • AACA: Perspectives from the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Regions (2017)
  • AACA: Barents Region Overview Report (2017)
  • AACA: Perspectives from the Baffin Bay-Davis Strait Region (2018)