So great to have the U.S. take over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council with a strong mandate to address climate change.
“The economy and environment are not divergent priorities. On the contrary, they’re inextricably linked. The people in the region tell us this all the time,” said John Kerry. “They don’t think it’s necessary for it to be a zero-sum game - one wins, one loses.”
The Canadian chairmanship was a disappointment, too focused on extractive industry, creating colonial corporate rule, regulatory agency capture and military buildup.
It is a relief that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s agenda no longer has control over the direction of the Arctic Council, especially now that through the Senator Mike Duffy corruption and bribery trial that it is being realized that the Conservative government is very vulnerable to big oil interests.
Sally Wright
Kluane Lake