SAO Meeting started in Narvik
160 participants from all over the world focus on arctic matters
One of the main issues to be discussed at the meeting is climate change which is a pressing concern in the Arctic areas. Global warming poses serious threats to the Arctic environment and to indigenous ways of life.
SAOs, which means Senior Arctic Officials, represent Ministers of the Arctic Council member states. Together with the representatives of Arctic indigenous organizations they meet every half year to report on and approve the Arctic Council's projects activities.
More than 160 delegates from the member states of the Arctic Council and observer states and organizations are attending the meeting which is the second during the Norwegian chairmanship that began in the autumn 2006.
