47 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report
In addition to CO
2
, soot and pollutants such as methane and ground-level ozone are afecting deglaciation in the Arctic. The white paper The High North – Visions and
strategies Meld. St. 7 2011–2012 states that it is a priority to take steps to reduce emissions of short-lived climate forcers in the High North. Similar targets for reduc-
ing emissions of particulates and gases with short atmospheric lifetimes that may have a signiicant warming efect, are also formulated in the Ministry of Foreign Afairs’
budget propositions for the years 2007–2012. According to the white paper Norwegian climate policy Meld. St. 21 2011−2012, Norway shall be a driving
force in such areas as the Arctic Council for increased cooperation on reducing emissions of soot and other short-lived climate forcers in the High North and other
areas through which pollutants reach the Arctic.
24
The Gothenburg Protocol, a protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Trans- boundary Air Pollution, deals with various gases leading to acidiication, eutrophica-
tion and ozone formation, and is key in securing international reductions of emissions of soot black carbon and short-lived climate forcers. Commitments to reduce
emissions of particulates were incorporated in the Gothenburg Protocol in May 2012. Countries are encouraged to reduce particulate emissions from sources where reduced
emissions of soot are also achieved.
25
Countries must otherwise continue to keep emissions below the levels of 2010 for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and
volatile organic compounds. In addition, new emissions targets were set for 2020.
26
3.3.2 Pollution
Report No. 30 2004–2005 to the Storting Opportunities and Challenges in the North notes that the eforts to limit the supply of long-range environmental pollutants
transported by air and ocean currents to the High North, which accumulate in animals, birds, ish and seafood, are a high priority for the Norwegian government and
an important common concern of member states of the Arctic Council.
According to the white paper The High North – Visions and strategies Meld. St. 7 2011–2012, there is a great need for cooperation among the Arctic States on long-
range pollutants carried by air and ocean currents. This includes cooperation on monitoring of levels of pollutants, on assessments of whether action is needed to deal
with inputs of new pollutants to the Arctic environment, and on action to deal with speciic sources of pollutants within the Arctic region.
27
In its discussion of the white paper Meld. St. 7 2011–2012, the Standing Committee on Foreign Afairs and Defence noted that matters such as air pollution can be
addressed by each Arctic state even if no international climate agreement is in place. The Committee refers in this context to the fact that the laring of gas has very nega-
tive environmental impacts in the Arctic areas. The Committee believes that it would be an advantage to lift this type of pollution issue to a high political level in the Arctic
Council, cf. Recommendation 236 S 2011–2012.
3.3.3 Biological diversity
Report No. 30 2004–2005 to the Storting Opportunities and Challenges in the North notes that the Arctic Council is working to preserve biodiversity in the Arctic by
supporting the creation of an international network of protected areas and more efec- tive laws and conservation practices. The white paper The High North – Visions and
24 Meld. St. 21 2011–2012 Report to the Storting white paper Norwegian Climate Policy p. 81. 25 Soot in the atmosphere has a warming effect on the climate. Black carbon also contributes to increased melting of ice in the
Arctic, as deposits on snow and ice cause the heat to be absorbed rather than relected. The Arctic is an area that is particularly vulnerable to soot emissions from the oil and gas industry, cf. www.cicero.uio.nowebnewsindex.aspx?id=11703.
26 State of the Environment Norway, www.miljostatus.noTemaLuftforurensningGoteborgprotokollen. 27 Similar objectives are speciied in Proposition No. 1 2006–2007, 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 to the Storting
and Prop. 1 S 2009–2010 Proposition to the Storting draft resolution – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
48 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report
strategies Meld. St. 7 2011–2012 states that it is a priority for the Government to establish targeted global and regional cooperation to ensure protection of particularly
vulnerable areas and species.
3.3.4 Sustainable economic development and commercial activities
The white paper The High North Meld. St. 7 2011–2012 refers to the issues related to opportunities for new economic activities such as shipping and oil and gas recovery
in a fragile environment like the Arctic. Any development will be accompanied by a need to ind the right balance between exploiting the new opportunities, environmen-
tal considerations and how to maintain the natural resource base on which the liveli- hoods of the indigenous peoples depend. According to the report, these issues are
given high priority by the Arctic Council.
In Recommendation 236 S 2011–2012, the Standing Committee on Foreign Afairs and Defence noted that the petroleum activities in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian
Sea are the single factor that is most likely to be able to contribute new value creation and employment in Northern Norway. The Standing Committee on Foreign Afairs
and Defence furthermore noted Norway’s strict environmental standards for petro- leum production, and believes that these should form the basis of common standards
for all petroleum-related activities in the Arctic. Such common environmental stan- dards must not entail less stringent requirements, but an environmental regulation that
fully takes into account the speciic challenges and risks that are related to petroleum activities in these northern waters. The Committee believes that the Arctic Council is
a suitable forum for developing such standards.
3.3.5 Maritime safety and emergency preparedness National priorities for the Arctic Council’s work on maritime safety and emergency
preparedness
The white paper The High North Meld. St. 7 2011–2012 states that the new oppor- tunities for economic activity in the Arctic are increasing the need to regulate human
activities with an emphasis on measures that reduce the risk of accidents and pollu- tion. This area is a priority nationally and internationally, including in the Arctic
Council and through international organisations such as the International Maritime Organization IMO.
28
In its discussion of the report, cf. Recommendation 236 S 2011–2012, the Standing Committee on Foreign Afairs and Defence appealed to the members of the Arctic
Council to work diligently and adopt a common position in IMO to achieve a binding Polar Code. According to the Committee, the Arctic Council should prioritise work
on maritime safety in Arctic waters.
The white paper Meld. St. 7 2011–2012 also notes that the Government will be a driving force for strengthened regional cooperation on oil spill preparedness through
the Arctic Council and negotiate an Arctic oil spill response instrument. In its discus- sion of the white paper Meld. St. 7 2011–2012, cf. Recommendation 236 S
2011–2012, the Standing Committee on Foreign Afairs and Defence supports the Government’s views and stated that in the future the Arctic Council should prioritise
work on oil spill preparedness. In that connection the Committee notes that ampliied requirements for oil spill preparedness in Arctic waters must be considered. The Com-
mittee welcomes the eforts made in the Arctic Council as regards oil spill prepared-
28 Similar objectives are cited in Proposition No. 1 2008–2009 to the Storting and Prop. 1 S 2009–2010, 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 Proposition to the Storting draft resolution – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
