Environment ministers of Arctic states meet to discuss climate

STOCKHOLM: For the first time, environment ministers of member countries of the Arctic Council are holding a meeting in a mine to discuss issues related to the region in the polar town of Kiruna in northern Sweden.

On the first day yesterday, the politicians heard and discussed expert reports on the development of economy and multilateral cooperation in the Arctic region.

"It is important to fix environmental issues in the Arctic cooperation," said Swedish environment minister Lena Ek.

They also discussed climate change and oxidation of the Arctic Ocean, viability and global consequences of the Arctic change, the diversity of biological species and servicing of the eco-system as well as pollutants in the Arctic region.

The ministers will discuss biological diversity in the Arctic and how to run the eco-system as well as causes leading to short-term climate change today.

The ministers are meeting at a mine at a depth of 550 meters in the Jukkasjarvi ice hotel to discuss Arctic Change and Its Global Consequences.

This is the first meeting of the environment ministers of the Arctic states.

Established in 1996, the Arctic Council unites Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the United States, Finland, Sweden as well as six associations of indigenous peoples of the North.

Sweden has been chairing the Council since May 2011. During that time Sweden paid special attention to preparing scientific reports on Arctic climate.