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Arctic Yearbook 2015
2015
January
2nd – Economic sanctions and other Russian economic woes materialize in a 30% drop in
traffic, year over year, of Russian shoppers visiting the Norwegian town of Kirkenes to
partake in Orthodox Christmas preparations, from 26,850 border crossings in December
2013 compared to 15,879 in December 2014.
February
20th – The Arctic Human Development Report II is published on the tenth anniversary of
the first volume, with a theme of Regional Processes and Global Linkages.
27th – UK House of Lords Arctic Committee publish their report on Responding to a Changing
Arctic.
March
16th-21st – Russia conducts a massive five day military exercise in its Arctic, involving 80,000
troops, 220 aircraft, 41 ships and 15 submarines.
12th – The Russian embassy of Canada announces that Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei
Lavrov, would not attend the Arctic Council Ministerial in Iqaluit, due to prior commitments.
Lavrov had attended every previous Arctic Council Ministerial since 2004.
April
23rd – 30th The Arctic Science Summit Week 2015 and International Conference for Arctic Research
Planning, (ICARP III) is held in Toyama, Japan. The conference statement “Integrating Arctic
Research: A Roadmap for the Further” is released.
24th – The 9th Arctic Council Ministerial is held in Iqaluit, Canada. Key deliverables of the
Canadian Chairmanship include an Enhanced Framework of Black carbon and Methane Emissions;
a Framework Plan for Cooperation on Prevention of Marine Oil Pollution; and the establishment of an
Arctic Economic Council.
2015 Year in Review