The Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response Working Group, EPPR, is one of the six Working Groups of the Arctic Council. EPPR focuses on the prevention, preparedness and response to environmental emergencies, search and rescue, natural and manmade disasters and accidents in the Arctic.
EPPR was established in 1991 and has been working since to enhance cooperation, information sharing, data collection and addressing gaps in the field of Arctic emergencies. While EPPR is not an operational response organization, EPPR develops, implements and supports projects and activities related to the mandate and collaborates with relevant stakeholders.
EPPR works together with other Arctic Council Working Groups and subsidiary bodies to produce information on best practices, to assess Arctic circumstances, to generate data and knowledge and to develop tools for informed decision making and cooperation in the Arctic.
EPPR has three Expert Groups that support the work conducted in the Working Group. Expert Groups work under the direction and guidance of the EPPR.
Search and Rescue Expert Group SAR EG
Marine Environmental Response Expert Group MER EG
Radiation Expert Group RAD EG
EPPR meets twice a year, to share new and updated information, to discuss priorities and projects identified in the workplan, and to follow up on current activities. EPPR contributes to cross-cutting Arctic Council initiatives and organizes workshops and exercises as approved.
EPPR is currently chaired by Canada and supported by a Vice-Chair from Norway.
The EPPR Secretariat is located in Tromsø, Norway, and is a part of the Arctic Council Secretariat.
EPPR Mandate
EPPR Work Plan 2019-2021 in the SAO Report to Ministers
“The Arctic is an environmentally sensitive area with an extreme climate characterized by low temperatures, winter-time darkness, snow, ice and permafrost. These harsh conditions and the sparse and limited amount of infrastructure in much of the Arctic increase risks and impacts and hinder response activities”
Arctic Council Working Group