The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, arrived in Iceland yesterday to attend the Arctic Council meeting on Thursday, reported RÚV.
The Arctic Council and Russia as its leader
This morning, Blinken is attending a joint press conference with Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarsson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development, in Harpa. Following this meeting, Blinken is expected to meet Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and afterward, he will meet the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
The primary purpose for the US Secretary of State’s visit is for the Arctic Council meeting on Thursday, where Iceland’s presidency of two years will come to an end. The presidency will then transition over to Russia – who will then hold the presidency for two years before the chairmanship will transition once again.
US Secretary of State introduced to Iceland’s climate action
Blinken and the Foreign Minister will visit the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant later today to discuss the Carbfix project, showcasing the plant’s ability to capture carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and storing it in stone underneath the earth’s surface. A timely introduction to the possibilities of climate change-combatant technology, as the vulnerability of the Arctic region, continues to evolve.
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