Arctic Yearbook 2015 | Page 27

27 Arctic Yearbook 2015 2015 January 2nd – Economic sanctions and other Russian economic woes materialize in a 30% drop in traffic, year over year, of Russian shoppers visiting the Norwegian town of Kirkenes to partake in Orthodox Christmas preparations, from 26,850 border crossings in December 2013 compared to 15,879 in December 2014. February 20th – The Arctic Human Development Report II is published on the tenth anniversary of the first volume, with a theme of Regional Processes and Global Linkages. 27th – UK House of Lords Arctic Committee publish their report on Responding to a Changing Arctic. March 16th-21st – Russia conducts a massive five day military exercise in its Arctic, involving 80,000 troops, 220 aircraft, 41 ships and 15 submarines. 12th – The Russian embassy of Canada announces that Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, would not attend the Arctic Council Ministerial in Iqaluit, due to prior commitments. Lavrov had attended every previous Arctic Council Ministerial since 2004. April 23rd – 30th The Arctic Science Summit Week 2015 and International Conference for Arctic Research Planning, (ICARP III) is held in Toyama, Japan. The conference statement “Integrating Arctic Research: A Roadmap for the Further” is released. 24th – The 9th Arctic Council Ministerial is held in Iqaluit, Canada. Key deliverables of the Canadian Chairmanship include an Enhanced Framework of Black carbon and Methane Emissions; a Framework Plan for Cooperation on Prevention of Marine Oil Pollution; and the establishment of an Arctic Economic Council. 2015 Year in Review