Attended by the Polish deputy minister online, this year’s discussion focused on four cooperation areas of relevance to the Arctic region. The consultations comprised the issue of Arctic wildland fires, the impact of climate change on the cryosphere, cooperation among observer states and other observers in the Arctic Council, and the equality and diversity policy towards the Arctic. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the indigenous peoples’ organization Gwich’in Council International, the European Union, the WWF, the Arctic Council Secretariat, the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat, and chairs of the Council’s working groups. Interestingly, this has been the first Warsaw Format meeting in many years to include representatives of all the observer states (present either in person or online).

Conceived to regularly bring together representatives of the Arctic Council observer states’ foreign ministries and the incumbent chairship, the Format has already convened for the second time since Norway assumed the latter role last year. The first meeting took place on 28 September 2023.

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The Arctic Council is an international initiative established by the Ottawa Declaration in 1996. It provides a forum for cooperation among the Arctic states, indigenous peoples’ organisations, and observers on issues related to the Arctic’s development and future. Poland has enjoyed observer status since 1998.