Inuit to have a say on shipping frenzy in Arctic – National Observer

November 17th 2021

Inuit have secured a seat at an international round table to regulate shipping concerns in the Arctic, an increasingly important issue as Indigenous communities in the North are disproportionately impacted by accelerated global warming in the region.

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) recently obtained provisional consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — the UN agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by vessels.

As Arctic ice melts and shipping increases, it’s vital Inuit are involved in the high-level decisions to protect their marine environment and the ocean and sea ice, all central to their survival and culture, said Lisa Koperqualuk, ICC Canada vice-president international.