Primary Focus: Advancing sustainable development and improving environmental, economic and social conditions of Indigenous peoples and Arctic communities
Establishment: 1998
Current Chairmanship: Iceland
SDWG’s work generally falls into thematic areas identified in its Strategic Framework:
SDWG is led by a Chairmanship that rotates between Arctic Council Member States every two years. Iceland holds the current Chairmanship for SDWG. Arctic States and Permanent Participants participate in the work, and Observers are invited to participate at SDWG meetings. A full list of SDWG projects and reports can be found on SDWG’s website.
SDWG’s Work Plan was developed in consideration of the 2017 SDWG Strategic Framework. The goal of the Work Plan is to promote initiatives that:
Two expert groups currently operate under SDWG: the Arctic Human Health Expert Group and the Social, Economic and Cultural Expert Group.
SDWG meets twice a year to discuss priorities and projects identified in the work plan.
Executive Secretary Jennifer Spence jennifer.spence@sdwg.org +1-613-878-1759