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Guide to Arctic Policy and Assessments

The USA's national strategy for the Arctic Region The strategy presents the relationship between the Government of the USA and the Arctic region, together with the current priorities and future outlook for the USA's Arctic policy. Policies and Strategies -

Arctic Report Card 2011 This report, by a team of 121 scientists from around the globe, concludes that the Arctic region continues to warm, with less sea ice and greater green vegetation. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Kingdom of Denmark Strategy for the Arctic 2011 - 2020 The purpose of this strategy is the reinforce the foundation for appropriate cooperation on the many new opportunities and challenges that the Arctic is dacing. Policies and Strategies -

Oil Spill Prevention and Drilling Plan Exploration Drilling 2011 - Greenland This document, published by the Greenland government in the wake of concerns by the public for more information, details plans on how to deal with potential oil spills of all sizes and icebergs and other threats in Arctic waters. Assessment and Reports Transport and Industry

Circumpolar Boreal Vegetation Map (CBVM): Mapping the Green Halo This concept paper outlines the development of the Circumpolar Boreal Vegetation Map (CBVM). CBVM is an attempt to understand the boreal in a new way that looks beyond the confines of administrative regions and regional approaches.
Assessment and Reports Biodiversity

Sweden´s Chairmanship Programme for the Arctic Council 2011-2013 During its Chairmanship, Sweden will focus on communications issues in different ways. A stronger and more visible Arctic Council is one of the priorities. Arctic Council -

Sweden´s Strategy for the Arctic region The strategy presents the relationship between the Government of Sweden and the Arctic region, together with the current priorities and future outlook for Sweden´s Arctic policy. Policies and Strategies -

Search and Rescue Agreement (SAR) The Agreement on Cooperation on aeronautical and maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic aims to improve cooperation between the eight Arctic countries in responding to emergency calls in the region. This Agreement is the first legally binding instrument negotiated under the auspices of the Council. Arctic Council Transport and Industry

Arctic Council Nuuk Declaration (2011) The Nuuk Declaration of May 2011 establishes as first legally binding Agreement of the Arctic Council the Search and Rescue Agreement (SAR) designed to reinforce cooperation in aeronautical and maritime operations. Arctic Council -

Climate change impacts on food production and water availability in Russia "A new assessment of climate change impacts on food production shortfalls and water availability in Russia" study takes into account the impact of changing frequency and spatial heterogeneity of extreme climate events, and the reliance of most of Russia on a few food producing regions. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Climate Change and POPs: Predicting the Impacts Climate change and increasing climate variability have the potential to affect POPs contamination via changes in emission sources, transport processes and pathways, and routes of degradation. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

Arctic Pollution 2002 The second AMAP State of the Arctic Environment Report is an update from the 1997 AMAP assessments on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Heavy Metals, Radioactivity, and Human Health, and includes an assessment on Climate Change Effects on Contaminant Pathways. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

A Sustainable EU Policy for the High North The EU is gradually formulating a policy on Arctic issues to address EU interests and responsibilities, while recognising EU countries’ legitimate interests and rights in the region. EU and the Arctic -

Rethinking the Top of the World: Arctic Security Public Opinion Survey This survey, conducted by the Munk School of Global Affairs (University of Toronto) examines opinions on the development of the Arctic regions in the eight Arctic states. Assessment and Reports -

The Shared Future: Aspen Institute Commission on Arctic Climate Change This report presents the Commission’s recommendations, foremost of which is that governance in the Arctic marine environment should be sustained and strengthened by a new conservation and sustainable development plan using an ecosystem-based management approach. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Russian Arctic Strategy (2008) The Strategy emphises Russian Arctic's importance to the overall Russian economy as a major source of revenue, mainly from energy production and profitable maritime transport.
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Joint Statement on cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean The Joint Statement outlines the agreement reached on the maritime delimitation between Norway and the Russian Federation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, which has been the subject of intensive negotiations over the last 40 years.
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New Building Blocks in the North (Norway High North Strategy, 2009) The High North efforts build on constructive partnerships – between the public and private sector, between central and local authorities, and between Norwegian and foreign actors. Policies and Strategies -

The Norwegian Government's Strategy for the High North (2007) The Strategy sets out a framework for the Norwegian Government's efforts in th High North, and to co-ordinate efforts inall fields relating to the High North strategy.
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US Arctic Region Policy (2009) The directive establishes the policy of the United States with respect to the Arctic region and directs related implementation actions. Policies and Strategies -

Iceland Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The High North Foreign policy information on the High North, from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. Policies and Strategies -

Finland's Arctic Strategy (2010) The Arctic strategy focuses on external relations and discusses issues relating to security, the environment, economy, infrastructure and the indigenous peoples in the Arctic, as well as international institutions and the Arctic policy of the European Union. Policies and Strategies -

Danish Preliminary Arctic Strategy (In Danish) Policies and Strategies -

Greenland and the Faroe Islands Foreign policy information on Greenland and the Faroe Islands from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Policies and Strategies -

Agreement on Arctic Cooperation between Canada and the United States of America A bilateral agreement which allows for practical cooperation regarding matters relating to the Northwest Passage while affirming that the two countries agree to disagree about the status of the passage under international law (source: Arctic Governance Project). Policies and Strategies -

Canada's Northern Strategy Canada's Northern Strategy focuses on four priority areas: exercising Canada's sovereignty; promoting social and economic development; protecting the North's environmental heritage; and improving and devolving northern governance.
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Canada's Arctic foreign policy This Statement on Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy articulates Canada's priorities with respect to sovereignty, economic and social development, environmental protection, and governance in the Arctic region, the four pillars underpinning Canada's Northern Strategy.
Policies and Strategies -

Inuit Circumpolar Council: Kuujjuaq Declaration (2002) The Kuujjuaq Declaration, as declared by the Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia at the 9th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). Indigenous Peoples -

Inuit Circumpolar Council: Utqiagvik Declaration (2006) The Utqiagvik Declaration, as declared by the Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia at the 10th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC). Indigenous Peoples -

Inuit Circumpolar Council: Nuuk Declaration (2010) The Nuuk Declaration, as declared by the Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia at the11th General Assembly of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), sets out the guidelines for work of the Council to 2014. Indigenous Peoples -

Arctic Leaders Summit: Moscow Declaration (2010) The Moscow Declaration is the outcome of the 5th Arctic Leaders Summit. Various requests for action are outlined. Policies and Strategies -

Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (1991) With this document, all eight Arctic countries commit themselves to a joint environmental agenda in the Arctic region. Arctic Council -

Rovaniemi Declaration on the Protection of the Arctic Environment (1991) Endorsed by the eight Arctic countries, the Rovaniemi Declaration provides a first framework for future cooperation in responding to environmental threats in the Arctic region. Arctic Council -

Nuuk Declaration (1993) The Declaration acknowledges the responsibilities of all eight Arctic countries regarding the protection of the Arctic environment. Arctic Council -

Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council (1996) As a wish to enhance Arctic cooperation, the eight Arctic countries pronounce the establishment of the Arctic Council as the official regular interactive forum to discuss regional challenges. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Alta Declaration (1997) With this declaration, the Arctic Council endorses several statements issued from the different strategies of the AEPS. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Iqaluit Declaration (1998) The Arctic Council adopts the Arctic Council Terms of Reference for a Sustainable Development Program and the Arctic Council Rules of Procedure. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Barrow Declaration (2000) The Arctic Council reaffirms its strong will to cope with the negative impacts of pollution with the adoption of the Arctic Council Action Plan to eliminate Pollution of the Arctic (ACAP). Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Inari Declaration (2002) The Declaration shows greater hierarchy in the scope of competencies of the Council as this one is encompassing an increasing number of activities. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Reykjavik Declaration (2004) With the endorsement of the Arctic Marine Strategic Plan, the Arctic Council takes a first step towards joint action in maritime protection by all eight Arctic countries. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Salekhard Declaration (2006) The Declaration focuses mainly on the International Polar Year 2007 - 2008 and its related challenges. Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Tromso Declaration (2009) The Declaration acknowledges the legacy of the international Polar Year. It recognizes the further involvement of the Arctic Council into health issues. Arctic Council -

Common Objectives for the Arctic Council Chairmanships 2006 – 2012 Common objectives and priorities for the Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish Chairmanships of the Arctic Council.
Arctic Council -

Arctic Council Danish Chairmanship Programme (2009) The Programme sets out the key areas of focus for the Arctic Council during the Danish Chairmanship (2009-2011). Arctic Council -

UNEP/GC SS.X/10. Monaco Decision on Sustainable Development in the Arctic (2008) The Monaco Decision encourages UNEP to co-operate with the Arctic Council, relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements and other relevant regional and international bodies on Arctic issues. Policies and Strategies -

UNEP/GC.22/11 Sustainable Devolopment of the Arctic Region (2003) The decision encourages the development and implementation of Global Environment Facility-funded projects to address environmental and health issues in the Arctic. Policies and Strategies -

UN-Habitat Resolution Sustainable development of Arctic human settlements (2007) Resolution of the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (21/5) concerning the sustainable development of Arctic human settlements. Policies and Strategies -

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly during its 62nd session at UN Headquarters, New York, 2007. The Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. Indigenous Peoples -

The EU and the Arctic Region: Support to indigenous peoples and local population Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. Policy objectives include engaging Arctic indigenous peoples in regular dialogue, providing opportunities for self-driven development and the protection of their lifestyle. EU and the Arctic -

The EU and the Arctic Region: Multilateral Governance Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. Policy objectives include working to uphold the further development of a cooperative Arctic governance system based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). EU and the Arctic -

The EU and the Arctic Region: Tourism Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. The EU strives to continue to support sustainable Arctic tourism, with protection of the environment and benefits to local coastal communities as the primary considerations. EU and the Arctic -

The EU and the Arctic Region: Transport Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. The EU's interests are to explore and improve conditions for gradually introducing Arctic commerical navigation, while promoting stricter safety and environmental standards as well as avoiding the detrimental effects. EU and the Arctic Transport and Industry

The EU and the Arctic Region: Fisheries Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. The EU's main objective is to ensure exploitation of Arctic fisheries resources at sustainable levels whilst respecting the rights of local coastal communities. EU and the Arctic Biodiversity

The EU and the Arctic Region: Research, Monitoring and Assessments Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. It outlines the EU's policy objectives and proposals for action in research, monitoring and assessments of the Arctic region. EU and the Arctic -

Proposal for a Regulation concerning Trade in Seal Products Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council to the placing on the market and the import in, transit through, and the export from the European Community of seal products. EU and the Arctic Biodiversity

The European Union Strategy of sustainable development for the Arctic A speech delivered by Commissioner Joe Borg, Member of the European Commission and Responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, at the Arctic Frontiers Conference, Tromsø, Norway, 2010. EU and the Arctic -

The EU and the Arctic Region: Exploitation of Hydrocarbons Based on the European Commission's communication on the European Union and Arctic Region. Policy objectives include to provide support for the exploitation of Arctic hydrocarbon resources, in full respect of strict environmental standards.
EU and the Arctic Transport and Industry

IMO Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters (2002) Recommendatory guidelines for ships operating in Arctic ice-covered waters International Conventions Transport and Industry

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1994 UNCLOS establishes rules governing all uses of world's ocean, seas, and resources. UNCLOS governs all aspects of ocean space. International Conventions -

Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal Oil and Gas North of the Arctic Circle USGS estimated the occurrence of undiscovered oil and gas in 33 geologic provinces thought to be prospective for petroleum. Assessment and Reports Transport and Industry

Arctic Oil and Gas 2007 (AMAP) The 2007 ‘Assessment of Oil and Gas Activities in the Arctic’ presents a holistic assessment of the environmental, social and economic, and human health impacts of current oil and gas activities in the Arctic. Assessment and Reports Transport and Industry

AMSA Report 2009 Executive Summary with Recommendations This presents a synopsis of the AMSA findings for each section.
Assessment and Reports Transport and Industry

Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA) 2009 The assessment’s central focus is on ships: their uses of the Arctic Ocean, their potential impacts on humans and the Arctic marine environment, and their marine infrastructure requirements. Assessment and Reports Transport and Industry

AMAP Assessment 2009: Radioactivity in the Arctic This AMAP assessment report details the results of the 2009 AMAP assessment of Radioactivity in the Arctic. It builds upon the previous AMAP radioactivity assessments that were presented in 1998 and 2002. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

The Greenland Ice Sheet in a Changing Climate A summary of the provisional assessment of the Greenland Ice Sheet component of the Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) project, prepared for the UNFCCC COPXV meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport This Assessment presents best available data on atmospheric mercury emissions from various sources, atmospheric transport and deposition and current results from modelling on a global scale. It is an overall summary for policy makers. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

AMAP Assessment 2006: Acidifying Pollutants, Arctic Haze and Acidification This report details the results of the 2006 AMAP assessment of Acidifying Pollutants, Arctic Haze, and Acidification in the Arctic. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

AMAP Assessment 2009: Human Health in the Arctic This assessment report details the results of the 2009 AMAP assessment of Human Health in the Arctic. It builds upon the previous AMAP human health assessments that were presented in 1981 and 2002. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

AMAP Assessment 2009 - Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Arctic This scientific report includes five review articles covering a number of new or emerging chemicals in the Arctic. Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

Arctic Pollution 2009 (AMAP State of the Environment Report) The sixth AMAP State of the Arctic Environment Report, updating the 1997 and 2002 AMAP assessments of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Human Health and Radioactivity.
Assessment and Reports Chemicals and Pollutants

The EU and the Arctic Region: Environment and Climate Change Activities in EU Member States — as most other countries — leave an environmental footprint in the Arctic. Addressing the root causes of Arctic changes requires a global response. Impacts resulting from climate change represent a challenge of paramount importance for the region at present and also for the future. EU and the Arctic Climate change

EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment Report The EU Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment, an initiative of the European Commission, is a study which aims to improve the effectiveness of EU environmental policies with respect to the Arctic region. EU and the Arctic Climate change

Climate Update on Selected Issues of Concern This Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) 2009 report summarises recent observations of changing climate parameters. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Arctic Report Card Issued annually, the Arctic Report Card is a timely source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the state of the Arctic environment, relative to historical time series records. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Global Outlook for Ice and Snow Ice, snow and climate change are closely linked. The Global Outlook for Ice and Snow investigates those linkages. It also presents information on the trends in ice and snow, the outlook for this century and beyond and the consequences to ecosystems and human well-being of these changes. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Arctic Climate Impact Science: An Update Since ACIA This study, commissioned by WWF International Arctic Programme, at the time presented the most wide-ranging review of Arctic climate impact science since the Arcitc Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) was published in 2005. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), a joint project by the Arctic Council and International Arctic Science Committee, describes the ongoing climate change in the Arctic and its consequences. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Arctic Climate Feedbacks: Global Implications This peer-reviewed report released in 2009 captured much information on climate change science in the Arctic not available in previous reports. Assessment and Reports Climate change

Protecting Arctic Biodiversity "Protecting Arctic Biodiversity: Limitations and Strengths of Environmental Agreements" takes a broad view of existing multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and examines the role of the global environment in influencing the effectiveness of Arctic MEAs in protecting biodiversity and in sustainable development. Assessment and Reports Biodiversity

Global Biodiversity Outlook 3 (2010) The Global Biodiversity Outlook is the flagship publication of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which draws from a range of information sources, including National Reports, biodiversity indicators information, scientific literature, and a study assessing biodiversity scenarios for the future. Assessment and Reports Biodiversity

Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Outlook Series: Global Synthesis The Global Synthesis Report forms a baseline for understanding the main pressures, states and management responses relating to marine biodiversity. The Report was prepared by the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans for the Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Outlook Series. Assessment and Reports Biodiversity

Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010: Selected indicators of Change Unique Arctic habitats for flora and fauna, including sea ice, tundra, lakes, and peatlands have been disappearing over recent decades, and some characteristic Arctic species have shown a decline. Assessment and Reports Biodiversity

Introduction

The Guide to Arctic Policy and Assessments provides the latest reports and policy statements on the Arctic, as well as scientific assessments on the issues of climate change, pollutants, biodiversity, and industry. The filter below allows documents to be searched by broad themes.

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