EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS presented to the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group and SAO-meeting by Sauli Rouhinen, Chair of the Arctic Council Capacity Building Workshop. November 5 and 6, 2001 Espoo, Finland.

Abstract

"The Barrow Declaration welcomed the introduction of a capacity building focus to the work and activities of the Council. Capacity Building, as recognized in the chapeau of the Sustainable Development Program, is a necessary element for achievement of Sustainable Development and must be taken into consideration in the projects developed under the Program. The Sustainable Development Program and other Programs of the Arctic Council aim to increase capacity at all levels of society. Canada offered to host a workshop on capacity building during the period 2000 to 2002 to explore practical ways to implement a capacity building focus. A two-day workshop, co-hosted by Canada and Finland, was held last week in Helsinki and attracted about 70 participants from among the member states, Permanent Participants, Observers and Arctic Council Working Groups. Several Working Group Chairs and SAOs also attended. At the start of the workshop a few people questioned the need for a discussion on capacity building at this time. However, by the conclusion of the workshop there was broad consensus that capacity building is relevant to the Arctic where the rapid changes of globalisation, climate change, and transitional economies require the development and application of new approaches and new solutions." /.../