“The Arctic parliamentary committee was instrumental in getting the development report on the Arctic. This is an important first step and shows the need for further research on the impact of climate change on the living conditions of the Arctic people. The focus of future research must investigate the situation of the indigenous people at their most exposed and vulnerable,” said the chair of the committee, Swedish MP Hill-Martha Solberg, during the debate in the Citizens’ Rights Committee on the results of research into climate change and development for the Arctic people. Solberg encouraged the politicians in the Nordic Council to use their political power to get commitment from their countries to follow up on research reports.

Rune Fjellhem from the Sami Council in the Arctic Council encouraged the MPs to find the statistical basis for the indigenous people’s situation in the Nordic part of the Arctic. “Good statistics are necessary if we are to solve the problem,” he emphasised saying also that the export value of the Arctic natural resources is of the same magnitude as that of Saudi Arabia. A greater share of these 'proceeds' should remain in the area in the future.