Nations sharing the Arctic are meeting in Greenland today to discuss how to better manage the region as it deals with climate change.
The Arctic Council summit in Nuuk will bring together officials from Canada, Russia, Finland, Iceland, the United States, Sweden and Denmark, which handles the affairs of Greenland.
Hillary Clinton will be the first U.S. secretary of state to attend an Arctic Council meeting.
Rising temperatures are expected to unlock mineral wealth in the Arctic including what is believed to be about a quarter of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas.
Melting ice, however, is already adversely impacting the hunting livelihoods of indigenous peoples and is threatening polar bears and other animals.
The Arctic Council is expected to announce its first formal agreement that will delegate search-and-rescue duties among Arctic states.
Also on the agenda is whether to admit observer delegations from non-Arctic powers like China.
The meeting may also consider moves to coordinate oil and gas development in the region.
compiled from agency reports