On November 6, the Federal University carried out the Model Arctic Council. Students discussed Arctic issues and developed a declaration to improve the life quality in the North.

Students acted as heads of states and international organizations, included in the Arctic Council. There were working groups on economy, culture, infrastructure and flora and fauna.

“The main problems of the northern settlements are lack of roads and inaccessibility. We suggest establishing a research center for enhancement the infrastructure in the North in Tiksi, Bulunsky Region, to put a satellite antenna to establish a connection and upgrade river and sea ports to attract the labor pool”, said Sandal Barashkov, the student of NEFU Institute of Physics and Technologies. According to members of the working group, telecommunication is a key point to improve the quality of life, and they suggest to develop transport logistics in the Arctic regions and to assess the quality of life in the North by a common method.

Students of the working group on flora and fauna reviewed the case - the oil spill in the Komi Republic. “The Arctic has a very fragile ecosystem, but the industry is rapidly developing here. We offer to fine countries that violate the conditions of storage and transportation of petroleum products. An independent commission at the Arctic Council should annually assess the level of gas emissions”, said Alina Skryabina, the student of the Institute of Foreign Philology and Regional Studies.

The declarations of the working groups include proposals to attract the attention of scientists to the development of the languages and culture of the North, set up charities for their development, to preserve species of traditional environmental management, to control technology standards for the industry.

“Model Arctic Council as a role-playing game is an important experience that helps students to negotiate at any level”, said Vladimir Vasiliev, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and External Relations of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). He said that in the framework of the Northern Forum, there will be a youth branch, where participants can be NEFU students. The event took place within the XII General Assembly of the Northern Forum in Yakutsk.