A) Objectives of the pledge:
The Arctic region is a vast northern area, characterised by severe conditions and challenging geography. It is home to numerous northern communities, but also a target of growing interest from outside the area looking to the untapped possibilities, resources and commercial interests the area has to offer. Shipping traffic, industries and tourism are gradually increasing in often challenging territories, sometimes habited by small communities and indigenous communities.
National Red Cross Societies act as auxiliaries to their governments and serve as key actors in humanitarian work throughout the Arctic region. Their presence is based on a network of trained local volunteers with extensive knowledge and experience about the Arctic region conditions as well as national deployable groups and staff. The National Societies cooperate in developing new ways of increasing level of preparedness, i.e. through training, capacity building, planning and exercises in Arctic settings. Meanwhile, the Government of Iceland has a leading role until May 2021 as the Chair of the eight states that form the Arctic Council.
B) Action plan:
With this in mind, for the years 2020-23, the Icelandic Government and the Icelandic Red Cross hereby pledge:
– To strengthen cooperation and coordination in the field of disaster preparedness and response in the Arctic region.
– To increase community preparedness and resilience for Arctic-region related emergencies and disasters. To actively seek effective solutions to reduce and minimise potential vulnerabilities caused by climate risks and hazards in the Arctic region.
C) Indicators for measuring progress:
– Strengthen coordination within the Arctic region with the aim of strategically facilitating effective regional cross-border coordination and cooperation in the field of disaster preparedness and response.
– Assess and identify the capacities of disaster response teams at the community level.
– Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) carried out in small communities prone to emergencies and disasters where needed.
– Relevant preparedness and response tools such as early warning systems, contingency plans and/or protocols developed in close cooperation with local authorities and relevant communities, where needed.
D) Resource implications:
N/A