# AECO Arctic environmental impact initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/aeco-arctic-environmental-impact-initiatives > Updated: 2026-09-11T07:18:07.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) is implementing various environmental initiatives to mitigate the impact of expedition cruises in the Arctic. In August 2026, AECO received NOK 400,000 from the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund for its Climate Change Project. This funding, part of a larger NOK 1 million investment, supports efforts to strengthen emissions reporting and assess the readiness of Arctic ports for the maritime energy transition through February 2028. By September 2026, the organization expanded its environmental research through the ‘Sound-Cruising’ project. In collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute and Aarhus University, this initiative studies the acoustic impact of specific expedition activities—such as passenger landings and zodiac boat operations—on underwater noise levels in sensitive Arctic fjords. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-11: AECO launches research into underwater noise from Arctic expedition cruises Researchers from AECO, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and Aarhus University are studying how expedition cruise activities, such as landings and zodiac operations, contribute to underwater noise in the Arctic. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aeco-launches-research-into-underwater-noise-from-arctic-expedition-cruises ### 2026-08-18: AECO receives funding to reduce Arctic expedition cruise emissions The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators received NOK 400,000 from the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund to reduce emissions and improve maritime energy transition readiness in the Arctic. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/aeco-receives-funding-to-reduce-arctic-expedition-cruise-emissions --- Cite as: AECO Arctic environmental impact initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/aeco-arctic-environmental-impact-initiatives