Iqaluit to welcome Arctic Council meeting Friday

Officials from Arctic Councilmember states around the circumpolar world are descending onIqaluit for theArctic Council ministerial meeting that takes place Friday and Saturday.

Canada has chairedthe council for the past twoyears and is set to hand over the chairmanship to the United States this week.

Farrah Khan, Greenpeace's Arctic campaigner based in Toronto,saidshe's disappointed with Canada's leadership.

"Reports are falling on deaf ears because they're not translating into any kind of action or legislation on the part of the countries themselves."

The focus of Canada's chairmanship was Arctic resource development, Arctic shipping and sustainable Northerncommunities.

Khan saidshe hopes the U.S. will do more to help the Arctic environment.

The council was established in 1996 and focuses on foreign policy issues shared by the eight member Arcticcountries. Italso prepares reports and recommendations on the state of the Arctic ecosystem.

Several indigenous organizations also take part in the council as permanent participants,including the Inuit Circumpolar Council.