Miljø- og Planlægningsudvalget 2009-10
MPU Alm.del Bilag 641
Offentligt
CHAIR’S STATEMENT FROM THE ARCTICENVIRONMENTAL MINISTERS MEETING10 June 2010, Arctic Environmental Ministerial MeetingAt the Arctic Environmental Ministers Meeting in Ilulissat, Greenlandon the 8-11 June 2010 the following Arctic countries wererepresented: Canada, Denmark/ Greenland/ The Faroe Islands,Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America.The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Permanent Participant to theArctic Council and Germany, a permanent observer to the ArcticCouncil, were also represented.The premises for the discussion of the meeting were the concern ofthe impacts of climate change, including the extensive reduction ofsea ice coverage and thickness in the Arctic and the potentialenvironmental impacts from increased shipping and oil and gasexploration and development.Participants recognized mitigation of climate change, oceanacidification and pollution including long range pollution as beingnecessary for the long term protection of the Arctic marineenvironment.Participants recognized the sensitivity of the Arctic marine andcoastal environment and the importance of these areas to peopleliving in and around the region and to all Arctic states, for economic,social, recreational and cultural reasons. When protecting the Arcticand coastal marine environment there is a need to consider thelimited infrastructure and harsh weather conditions of the region.Participants of thedevastating Gulf ofmarine and coastalArctic environment,meeting expressed deep concern about theMexico oil spill incident and its impact on theenvironment. Recognizing the fragility of theparticipants stressed the importance for Arctic
states to exercise careful stewardship and a precautionary approach,in considering possible offshore oil and gas development. Discussionsfocused on the need to apply high environmental and safetystandards, the use of best available technologies, environmentalimpact assessments, the development of efficient emergencypreparedness responses, the sharing of science, research andinformation, and international cooperation in these areas.The meeting underlined the need to protect the Arctic marineenvironment for the benefit of present and future generations inimplementing an ecosystem-based approach to management. It wasstressed that efforts are needed to sustainably manage, protect, andwhen necessary restore species of the Arctic marine and coastalenvironment.The need to carry out environmental measures, in accordance withinternational law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS), and within the framework of theInternational Maritime Organization was emphasized.Participants were encouraged to consider ratification of relevantinternational marine and maritime agreements without delay, such asthe International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-foulingSystems on Ships, International Convention for the Control andManagement of Ships Ballast Water & Sediments and The"Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping ofWastes and Other Matter 1972", and “1996 Protocol to the LondonConvention”.Implementation of relevant environmental international conventionsand obligations concerning risks to the fragile Arctic ecosystem wereemphasized as well as the need to adopt and enforce nationalmeasures consistent with international law.Participants expressed their strong support towards the ongoing workin the IMO to address important maritime safety and environmental
protection issues in the Arctic area. It was stressed that there was aneed for establishment of mandatory requirements as part of a PolarCode would address a significant gap in the existing regulation forships operating in Arctic area.The participants underlined the importance of the Arctic MarineShipping Assessment (AMSA) 2009 report approved at the 6thMinisterial Meeting of Arctic Council - the Tromsø Declaration from 29April 2009, and the importance of the follow up of itsrecommendations.Participants noted that release of oil through accidental or illegaldischarges is the most significant threat to the Arctic marineenvironment from shipping. They encourage the identification andconsideration of effective measures to reduce this risk.Participants encouraged the identification of areas of heightenedecological and cultural value that needs protection from shipping.Work on AMSA recommendations relevant to this will be expected tobe considered at the Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in 2011, whichwill be an important step forward.Participants noted that future steps would be to consider measures toprotect areas of heightened ecological and cultural value fromincreased shipping activities, taking into account the economicimplications.The effort to collect data, as well as the lessons learned, and thecontinuous work being done under the Arctic Council with a properunderstanding of the need to further strengthen coordination andsharing information regionally and around the Arctic were welcomed.The participants emphasized the Environment Ministers’ active role inthe work of the Arctic Council and in implementing itsrecommendations, based on the work of all the Arctic Council’sWorking Groups.