22/01/2008 Session
Today, the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging the member states to act together to protect the arctic region.
Vladimir achev (Russia, EDG), the rapporteur, insisted on the need for a strategy and special programmes to ward off the effects of intensive economic exploitation of the arctic territories and preserve their environment.
The arctic, whose ecosystems are already under threat from global warming, has recently become the target of intense economic development, founded on its immense natural resources, such as gas and hydrocarbons, which themselves generate polluting activities.
"All the arctic states must combine their efforts within the Arctic Council, and international co-operation on protecting the environment must be stepped up, particularly through the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and on the basis of the existing bilateral agreements", declared Mr achev, who cited the long-standing co-operation between Norway and Russia on setting up protected zones as an example.