Norway will assume the chairmanship of the Arctic Council, a forum that promotes collaboration on Arctic-related issues such as environmental protection. Russia, which previously held the chairmanship, faced hindered cooperation following its invasion of Ukraine, affecting matters related to climate change. India, the only observer country in the council, places great importance on research and cooperation in the Arctic due to the impact of melting ice on the countrys monsoon season and economy.Why is Arctic research important for IndiaThe secretary of the Union Earth Sciences Ministry, M. Ravichandran, emphasised the importance of Norways chairmanship for India. He referred to Norways contribution in assisting Indias Arctic activities and the provision of two berths on a Norwegian icebreaker for Indian scientists to travel to the North Pole. However, the councils future operation without Russia remains questionable, and India intends to contribute and work despite this.According to M. Rajeevan, a former secretary of the Earth Sciences Ministry, India has limited involvement in the Arctic Council as an observer country. India has an observatory in Norway and aims to open one in Canada, recognising the Arctics critical role in world energy balance and its repercussions on the Indian monsoon. Rajeevan emphasised Indias political, economic, and scientific interests in the region by emphasising the economic and trade potential created by decreasing sea ice and the opening of new shipping routes.Due to decreasing sea ice, the World Meteorological Organisation observed an increase in marine ship traffic in the Arctic, particularly along routes connecting the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait and the Beaufort Sea. This trend has both economic implications and possible consequences for Arctic inhabitants and ecosystems.Notably, the Arctic saw above-average snow accumulation and early runoff during the 2021-2022 season, which is consistent with long-term patterns of reduced snow seasons in some places. Temperatures in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk were unprecedented in 2020, with Arctic Siberia witnessing temperatures up to 10°C above usual over the summer. These unusual conditions resulted in wildfires and additional sea ice loss.Despite Norways assumption of the chairmanship, the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, a London-based research group, stated that the Arctic Councils challenges will endure. It did, however, emphasise that the shift will allow for closer working connections between the majority of member countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and the United States) and the chair, hence facilitating the forums work.Removal of Russia from the councilDwayne Ryan Menezes, the managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative, stated that Russias actions in Ukraine had raised questions about long-held assumptions regarding Arctic exceptionalism. In response, seven of the eight member states of the Arctic Council issued a joint statement condemning Russias actions and temporarily suspended their participation in council meetings. In July 2022, these member states declared their intention to resume limited cooperation within the council, excluding Russias involvement. Russia, in February, shifted its focus away from multilateral, regional cooperation formats like the Arctic Council, prioritising its national interests instead.
