Norwegian work on environmental toxins in the Arctic Council

95 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report 6 Economic activity and development in the Arctic In the Ottawa Declaration, the member states agreed to ensure the sustainable devel- opment of the Arctic, including economic and social development. In the Norwegian Chairmanship Programme, Norwegian authorities pointed out that the Arctic Council should initiate a broad policy debate on all matters of importance to the Arctic and those who live there. That includes economic activity such as energy, isheries and mineral activities, and other matters of common interest afecting social and economic development. It was pointed out that the sustainable use of resources should be a key area for cooperation in the Arctic Council. Reference is also made in this connection to Norway’s commitment to ecosystem-based management. 216 There is general agreement that there is great potential for commercial activities in the Arctic – both the exploitation of natural resources especially oil, gas and other minerals and maritime transport. The same applies to tourism, including cruise operations. The climate changes described in Section 5.1 will probably intensify this development in that access to natural resources is increasing, and because the de - glaciation that is taking place may provide a basis for increased ship traic. Increased commercial activity will consequently require work on safety and environmental protection in vulnerable areas such as the Arctic. This facts section will look at the economic activities the Arctic Council is examining. The activities are primarily related to safety and emergency preparedness – activities that will protect commercial operations and their employees and the environment from undesirable incidents. This chapter is further divided into the following areas: 1 shipping, 2 oil and gas production and 3 emergency preparedness against acute pollution. At the Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna 2013 it was agreed to establish a task force 217 whose mandate was to facilitate the creation of a forum for dialogue with business and industry in the Arctic. The recommendation from the working group was dis- cussed at the SAO meeting in March 2014 and agreement was reached on the princi- ples for creating the Arctic Economic Council AEC. All member states and indige- nous peoples’ organisations will appoint three business representatives each to attend a statutory meeting. The AEC is to be operated by the business community, and its mission is to strengthen industrial economic cooperation in the Arctic Council.

6.1 Shipping in the Arctic

Increased deglaciation and the possibility of increased ship traic through the Arctic Ocean are key issues for the Arctic states – they present opportunities for increased commercial activities in shipping and create new challenges where safety and the environment must be safeguarded. Norway’s geographical position at the entrance and exit to the Arctic Ocean and the gateway to the Northern Sea Route, and already con- siderable traic in northern waters 80 per cent of all ship traic in the Arctic takes place in Norwegian waters, make Norway a key coastal state in this context. 216 Norway’s Chairmanship Programme in the Arctic Council, 2006–2008 2009. 217 Task Force to facilitate the creation of a circumpolar business forum.