Arctic Council AC

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum for cooperation among the eight Arctic states and indigenous communities of the region. Since its establishment in 1996, the Council has focused on environmental protection and sustainable development, supported by specialized working groups. However, as climate change accelerates and geopolitical tensions rise, the Arctic has become an increasingly contested space for economic, strategic, and political interests. This year, delegates will address two pressing challenges: the militarization of the Arctic and the growing competition over its natural resources. Across both topics, delegates must navigate the balance between cooperation and competition in one of the world’s most rapidly changing regions.

TOPIC A: Militarization and Strategic Cooperation
Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic lacks a comprehensive demilitarization framework, leaving military activity and territorial claims largely unregulated. As melting sea ice opens new trade routes and access to natural resources, Arctic states have expanded their military presence, raising concerns over security, navigation rights, and regional stability. Delegates will be tasked with addressing rising tensions by exploring mechanisms for conflict mitigation, territorial dispute management, and potential arms control agreements. This may include frameworks for military de-escalation, restrictions on certain weapons systems, and protections for freedom of navigation. The topic challenges delegates to balance national security priorities with the need for long-term regional stability and cooperation.

TOPIC B: Resource Exploitation and Environmental Protection
The Arctic holds significant reserves of untapped oil and natural gas, making it an increasingly attractive region for resource extraction as ice coverage recedes. However, this opportunity comes with substantial environmental risks, including ecosystem disruption, oil spills, and accelerated climate change effects. At the same time, indigenous communities and environmental stakeholders emphasize the long-term consequences of unchecked development. Delegates will consider how to regulate resource extraction through international cooperation, including environmental protections, corporate accountability measures, and sustainable development frameworks. This topic asks whether economic opportunity and environmental preservation can be balanced in a region where the stakes are both global and immediate.