Finland should be integrated into the Alliance as soon as possible; their accession will strengthen the collective security of Europe. We know that changes in the Arctic environment are already affecting the UK through global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity. Between January and November 2021, 70% of the UK’s seafood imports came from countries within the Arctic region.

We recognise the importance of negotiated and consensus-driven agreements through multilateral organisations, treaties and conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS), International Maritime Organization ( IMO) and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic ( OSPAR). The UK and Faroe Islands signed a Memorandum of Understanding on space launches in April 2020, with work ongoing with the Greenlandic Government to agree handling of launch debris in the waters around Greenland. In a changing environment, retreating sea ice, melting glaciers and warming permafrost can release chemicals and microplastics that had previously been trapped. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. We share Sweden’s concerns that the Arctic’s Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change.We will continue to monitor and assist, as appropriate, in the further development of plans for SAR in the region. The UK’s bilateral engagement with Sweden is focussed on environmental challenges facing the Arctic. Warmer seas are less able to absorb CO2, so more will stay in the atmosphere and further amplify the impacts of global warming. We recognise that some Arctic issues have purely regional implications, and that it is appropriate for organisations to discuss these at a regional level. We will continue to engage with our Arctic partners and Allies to contribute to ongoing critical work, and we stand ready to recommence participation in multilateral cooperation across the Arctic region when appropriate.

There is likely to be a rise in tourism and an associated increase in visitor numbers, which could offer opportunities to work closely with all Arctic states to ensure safety at sea. We will ensure that our investments in science and technology help develop the right cold weather capabilities now and in the future, including looking at the potential of autonomous systems and new space-based capabilities. We will contest malign and destabilising behaviours and activity which threaten our interests and the stability of the region. Following COP15, the UK will continue to lead the Global Ocean Alliance, and play a central role within the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, continuing to advocate for international ocean action and supporting implementation of the 30by30 target.The UK is a global financial centre and world leader in financial and professional services, including insurance, risk management, financial and legal services. The Finnish Parliament adopted a new Climate Change Act in May 2022, enshrining in law the goals for the country to be carbon neutral by 2035. The UK recognises the importance of the Arctic environment for a wide variety of species and for the livelihoods of the people who live there.

UK experts have contributed to the development of a Decade Arctic Action Plan, identifying actions, priorities and an implementation plan for the Arctic Ocean in the Ocean Decade. This Agreement is important for the UK as, due to the integrated nature of ecosystems, changes in the Arctic Ocean will have an impact on the distribution of North Atlantic biological resources. Looking North is a new exhibition that presents work by artists from the North-West of England and highlights many exciting recent additions to the Arts Council Collection. As the Initiative develops, we advocate an approach that minimises negative impact on the Arctic environment while maximising the economic benefit for communities, which will also suffer the most disruption. In March 2021 the UK and Norway signed an updated High Level Arrangement on Cooperation on Polar Affairs.We continue to encourage the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Northern Dimension, and other regional organisations to be transparent and inclusive to build trust and confidence between partners and beyond. This document brings together all the UK’s policies and strategies relating to the Arctic under a single, integrated framework, in line with the Integrated Review. Changes in the Arctic mean that the region is seeing growing interest from both industries and countries around the world.