In 2021 the Station celebrated its 30th anniversary and has seen significant new investment in logistics and science equipment, as well as in the fabric of the Station itself. The UK and Faroe Islands signed a Memorandum of Understanding on space launches in April 2020, with work ongoing with the Greenlandic Government to agree handling of launch debris in the waters around Greenland.

The 2021 Spending Review backed this up with a significant increase in funding for science to achieve the UK’s ambition to be a Science, Technology and Innovation Superpower. We will ensure that cold weather requirements drive science, technology and capability planning so that our future equipment and personnel can operate in the High North when required. We continue to encourage the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Northern Dimension, and other regional organisations to be transparent and inclusive to build trust and confidence between partners and beyond. Sweden is also an important member of the JEF, hosting a UK military headquarters during Exercise Joint Protector in 2021 and hosting the JEF Chiefs of Defence conference in February 2022. It will explain how the UK will strengthen our security and resilience, and bolster our work with a network of allies to pursue shared interests with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.The UK’s bilateral engagement with Sweden is focussed on environmental challenges facing the Arctic. The UK continues to develop links with the Faroe Islands in areas including green energy transition, digital and transport connectivity, and sustainable tourism. These events provide valuable opportunities for discussion and the sharing of ideas and learning for the benefit of all.

As the 2021 Integrated Review makes clear, the UK will contribute to maintaining the Arctic as a region of high co-operation and low tension. Local Arctic air pollution can be severe and significantly exceed air quality standards, impairing public health and affecting ecosystems. Sweden should be integrated into the Alliance as soon as possible; their accession will strengthen the collective security of Europe.The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) ‘Arctic Climate Change Update 2021 report’ [footnote 2] highlighted that the increase in Arctic annual mean surface temperature between 1971 and 2019 was three times higher than the increase in the global average during the same period. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, its longevity is a testament to the important role the Council has played in promoting peace and cooperation in the Arctic. Russia assesses that melting sea ice will provide it with considerable economic and development opportunities but will further expose its northern flank, increasing naval activity and volumes of maritime traffic in the region, including along the Northern Sea Route (NSR). Looking North » exprime sa nostalgie pour cette ville au travers de compositions contemplatives et hypnotiques, où convergent des influences musicales diverses, entre musique de film, du