Protection of the environment in the Arctic Region
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 22 January 2008 (4th Sitting) (see Doc. 11477, report of the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture
and Local and Regional Affairs, rapporteur: Mr Grachev). Text adopted by the Assembly on
22 January 2008 (4th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
1. The Arctic region is unique by
reason of its geographical location and the entire range of extreme environmental
conditions encountered there. It plays a key role in the global
physical, chemical and biological equilibrium. It is also highly
sensitive to climatic variations, and the reactions triggered in
the Arctic have such far-ranging consequences for the global state
of the environment that researchers regard this region as the first to
show the signs of future climate change. It is also a region with
a great wealth of natural resources (minerals, natural gas, oil
and fish stocks).
2. As a result of climate change there is a high risk of warming
of the Arctic region, which could predictably lead to gradual melting
of the polar ice cap over the course of this century with serious
ecological consequences such as the disappearance of summer ice,
rising sea levels, a decrease in seawater salinity, modification
of ocean currents (not least the Gulf Stream) and lower temperatures
in western Europe.
3. In the far north, especially the Barents Sea, there are significant
hydrocarbon resources, currently estimated at 25% of world reserves.
Technological progress has made it possible to begin exploiting
these deposits, which are essential to Europe’s energy supply.
4. The Parliamentary Assembly nonetheless underlines that exploitation
of the region’s particularly rich mineral resources, especially
in the Russian Federation (coal, copper, nickel, cobalt, etc.),
involves highly polluting activities.
5. The Assembly is aware of the serious threat that pollution
and climate change represent for the region’s existing biological
resources (fish, marine mammals, reindeer, bears, birds, etc.) and
the livelihood of its inhabitants, including the indigenous peoples.
6. Intensive economic exploitation of the Arctic for the benefit
of the countries bordering the Arctic Ocean, as well as those planning
to develop their economies using the Arctic’s natural resources,
necessitates the formulation and implementation of a joint strategy
and programmes to guarantee the preservation of an environment favourable
to human beings and the many plant and animal species unique to
the region.
7. The Assembly expresses its support for the work of the Arctic
Council, both as an important forum for increased mutual understanding
and co-operation in the circumpolar area, and for the contributions
it has made to the well-being of the inhabitants of the Arctic.
8. The Arctic region is exposed to a particularly serious radiological
risk from European and Russian nuclear waste owing to liquid radioactive
waste carried along by the marine currents (in particular the Gulf Stream),
the presence of decommissioned nuclear power stations, nuclear submarines
and other nuclear-powered vessels in a state of disrepair, nuclear-powered
lighthouses and nuclear waste dumped at sea or in unsafe storage
sites.
9. The Assembly points out that co-operation in the Arctic region
has recently made good progress, as witnessed by increased circumpolar
co-operation by indigenous peoples, organisations and sub-national governments,
as well as bilateral and multilateral co-operation. In bilateral
terms, for instance, Norway and the Russian Federation have for
many years been implementing very active co-operation measures,
and some areas of the two countries already enjoy special protected
status. In multilateral terms, region-building with nations as major
actors, focusing on the Arctic Council, is a case in point. All
are important to foster peace and stability through sustainable
development of economies and local communities.
10. The Assembly underlines that the highly vulnerable environment
of the Arctic region requires special protection to safeguard its
biodiversity and unique terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Traditional
ways of husbanding natural resources developed by indigenous peoples
play a significant role in maintaining the environmental equilibrium
and have a favourable impact on natural productivity.
11. The long-standing co-operation between Norway and the Russian
Federation could serve as a model for bilateral co-operation activities
to foster the environmental protection and sustainable development
of the Arctic. The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, aimed at combating
global warming, itself constitutes a positive example of multilateral
co-operation.
12. The Assembly is convinced that international co-operation,
along with a significant investment of funds, is the only means
both of managing many of the challenges resulting from climate change
in the region and taking advantage of new economic opportunities
for the benefit of all states in the region, while preserving the environment
and promoting sustainable development of local communities.
13. The Assembly considers that, in response to the environmental
protection issues facing the Arctic region, all states in the region
must pool their efforts in the framework of the Arctic Council as
well as the United Nations. This is of particular importance with
regard to the human dimension of the Arctic, not least its indigenous
peoples. Both economic development and environmental protection
are essential for the benefit of the people in the Arctic. In order
to strike a balance between economic development, environmental
protection and sustainable development of local communities, the
Assembly supports the continued work of the Arctic Council regarding
the human dimension, such as the work on Arctic social indicators
that will supplement the human development indicators of the United
Nations to better reflect the realities of life in the Arctic region.
14. The Parliamentary Assembly draws attention to the Northern
Dimension Policy of the European Union, Iceland, Norway and the
Russian Federation. This policy provides for increased opportunities
and additional resources for environmental protection as well as
for sustainable development in the Arctic region. Good results have
already been achieved through the Northern Dimension Environmental
Partnership as well as through the Northern Dimension Partnership
in Public Health and Social Well-being. The establishment of a new
Northern Dimension partnership in transport and logistics is now
being explored.
15. It welcomes the initiative taken by the Russian Federation
during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council (2004- 2006) to declare
2007-2008 International Polar Year. This has made international
co-operation and scientific research in the region a key focus for
the countries concerned in association with other organisations seeking
to develop cooperation in the region, particularly for environmental
protection purposes.
16. In this connection, the Assembly draws attention to the importance
of the National Plan of Action for the Protection of the Arctic
Marine Environment, including from man-made sources of pollution,
implemented in Russia by the United Nations Environment Programme,
as a model regional scheme for joint action in the light of the
positive experiences and the progress made in Russia.
17. In this context the Assembly calls on member and observer
states of the Council of Europe in the Arctic region to:
17.1 make preservation of the sustainability
of the Arctic ecosystems, as a vital element of the global ecological
equilibrium, a key principle of all national and regional economic
development programmes;
17.2 endorse the efforts to follow up within the Arctic Council
and other international forums the findings of the Arctic Climate
Impact Assessment (ACIA), and in particular to identify and share adaptation
expertise and best practices unique to the needs and conditions
of the Arctic;
17.3 develop international co-operation, with a view to the
implementation of joint and bilateral measures for the protection
of the Arctic environment, particularly within the framework of
the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and the existing bilateral agreement
and international conventions;
17.4 continue the discussions and consultations on economic,
environmental, scientific and technological co-operation so as to
enhance the effectiveness of environmental protection measures in view
of the foreseeable more intense exploitation of the Arctic’s natural
resources;
17.5 take into account the Arctic region’s particularities
and the need for specific environmental management schemes when
devising and implementing national policies for the protection and management
of the natural environment;
17.6 develop sustainable natural resource management strategies
by taking measures aimed at:
17.6.1 safeguarding
the Arctic region from any form of uncontrolled development and
non- sustainable exploitation of its natural resources;
17.6.2 preventing the increased risks of pollution arising from
the economic exploitation of the region and its natural resources;
17.6.3 managing growth in regional tourism in a sustainable,
environmentally friendly manner.
18. Lastly, the Assembly encourages in particular the Arctic Council
to adjust the existing environmental protection strategies and programmes,
devise new ones and implement them bearing in mind the plans for intensive
exploitation of the Arctic’s natural resources.
19. The Assembly stresses the importance of improving well-being
and eradicating poverty among indigenous peoples and other Arctic
residents, and the need for their inclusion in decision making in
relation to policy planning and implementation. The Assembly notes
that the position of indigenous people is a priority in the programme
for the Russian presidency of the Barents-Euro-Arctic Council from
2007 to 2009.
