Arctic policy of Iceland

The Arctic policy of Iceland refers to the foreign policy of Iceland in regard to the Arctic region.

Iceland is a member of the Arctic Council. Iceland does not agree that the Arctic five should meet separately, as they did at the Arctic Ocean Conference.

General topographic map

Policy statements

March 28, 2011, the Althing passed a resolution on Iceland's Arctic Policy including the following: Promoting and strengthening the Arctic Council; Securing Iceland as a coastal State within the Arctic; Promoting concept that the Arctic region extends both to the North Pole and to the closely connected North Atlantic area; Resolving differences in the Arctic using United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; Increasing cooperation with the Faroe Islands and Greenland to promote the interests of the three countries; Supporting the indigenous rights in the Arctic; Cooperating with other States and stakeholders on issues relating to Icelandic interests in the Arctic; Working to prevent human-induced climate change and its effects in order to improve the well-being of Arctic residents; Safeguarding broadly defined security interests through civilian means and working against all militarization of the Arctic; Increasing trade relations between Arctic States; Advancing Icelanders' knowledge of Arctic issues and promoting Iceland abroad as a venue for Arctic conferences; Increasing consultations and cooperation at the domestic level on Arctic issues.

Scientific research

Iceland conducts various kinds of scientific research in Arctic matters. An overview of institutions working on Arctic matters can be seen on the website on the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network.

Iceland hosts two key research stations: the China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory (CIAO) in Kárhóll, run by China, and the Mývatn Research Station, managed by Icelandic institutions.

China-Iceland Arctic Science Observatory (CIAO)

Located in Kárhóll, northern Iceland, CIAO is operated by China's Polar Research Institute under a lease with Aurora Observatory. Established in 2018, it focuses on Arctic research, including climate change and environmental monitoring, and is a hub for Sino-Icelandic scientific collaboration.

Mývatn Research Station

Situated at Mývatn, this station is run by Icelandic institutions and has been active since 1975. It conducts research on ecology, limnology, and environmental science, contributing to global understanding of Arctic ecosystems and climate change impacts.

See also

International initiatives

• Arctic Cooperation and Politics
• Arctic Council
• Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
• Arctic Ocean Conference
• Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement
• Territorial claims in the Arctic
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Nation states policies

• Arctic policy of European Union
• Arctic policy of China
• Arctic policy of Russia

Foreign relations of Iceland

• Arctic (section International cooperation and politics)

Arctic concepts and terms

• Nordicity