WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Harf added that during the meeting Kerry will begin the two-year term as Chairman of the Arctic Council.
“Secretary Kerry will present the 2015-2017 US Arctic Council chairmanship program, "One Arctic: Shared Opportunities, Challenges, and Responsibilities," to the seven other Arctic Member States and six Permanent Participants of the Council,” Harf said.
The United States intends during its chairmanship to address the impacts of climate change, Arctic Ocean safety and security, as well as ways to improve economic and living conditions for people in the Arctic, according to the State Department.
The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum that addresses problems faced by the Arctic countries' governments. Eight countries are members of the Arctic Council, including Russia and Canada, while 12 countries have observer status.
