The Arctic Council’s recommendations and influence on the work of Norwegian authorities

76 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report Wood burning accounts for a signiicant share of Norwegian emissions of soot, almost one quarter. Other major sources are motorised equipment 24 per cent, road trans- port 15 per cent, shipping 18 per cent and oil industry 12 per cent. The Norwegian Environment Agency pointed out that the Arctic Council has helped strengthen Norwegian public administration in this ield. The task force for the short- lived climate forcers has urged member states to put in place an accounting system for emissions of short-lived climate forcers. Norway was put under some pressure as several of the other Arctic countries Canada, USA, Denmark and Finland already had such accounting systems in place . 158 The Norwegian Environment Agency referred to the Arctic Council’s report, 159 which shows that Norwegian soot emissions are in line with emissions in the other Nordic countries. The Agency also emphasised that measured per person, Norwegian emis- sions mirror the global average. However, Norway’s proximity to the High North makes it especially important to reduce soot emissions afecting the Arctic. 160 The Norwegian Environment Agency has carried out a project on soot and other short-lived climate forcers with a number of collaborating institutions. A proposed action plan for emissions of short-lived climate forcers was submitted on 6 December 2013. The goal is that the recommended measures and instruments will provide efec- tive emission reductions of short-lived climate forcers by 2030. 161 Wood burning is a major source of soot emissions in the Arctic, and Norway leads a climate project under the ACAP Working Group relating to reducing emissions of soot from burning wood. All of the Arctic countries except Iceland and Russia are participating in the project. The project will present recommendations on measures to reduce emissions of soot from burning wood in the Arctic countries. The project’s irst phase is expected to be completed in 2014. 162 Norwegian emissions of nitrogen oxides NO x have fallen since 2000, and if the decline continues at the same pace, Norway will meet its international obligations in 2014. 163 Emissions of sulphur dioxide have declined sharply since 1990, and in 2006 Norway met its commitments in the Gothenburg Protocol. Norwegian emissions of volatile organic compounds without methane NMVOCs are approaching the Gothenburg Protocol’s 2020 targets. Since 2008, emissions of ammonia have seen a slight down- ward trend, and in 2012 Norwegian emissions were 17 per cent above obligations. 158 The Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Forslag til handlingsplan for norske utslipp av kortlevde klimadrivere Proposed action plan for Norwegian emissions of short­lived climate forcers preliminary report, M892013, and interview with the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 159 AMAP 2011 The Impact of Black Carbon on Arctic Climate. AMAP Technical Report No. 4 2011. 160 Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Første steg mot sottiltak. A irst step towards soot reduction measures Article. Published on 12 April 2013. 161 Norwegian Environment Agency 2013 Første steg mot sottiltak. A irst step towards soot reduction measures Article. Published on 12 April 2013. 162 Interview with the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 163 Statistics Norway 2014 Emissions of acidifying gases and ozone precursors, 1990–2012, final figures. Statistics published on 29 January 2014. 77 Document 3:3 2014–2015 Report Figure 4 Blomstrand Peninsula in Svalbard Svalbardkommisjonæren 1927, Utmålskart, blad 2 London The map on the left is from 1927 and shows the whole of the Blomstrand Peninsula covered by a glacier. The map on the right shows the glacier snout as it was in 1998. The Peninsula has now melted completely out of the glacier and proved to be an island. Illustration: Norwegian Polar Institute.

5.2 Pollution and monitoring in the Arctic

Pollution in the Arctic has been one of the most important ields of work in the Arctic Council since the Council was created in 1996, and was a continuation of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy from 1991. 164 Over the years, the Arctic Council has developed several reports on environmental toxins in the Arctic, a topic which is discussed in Section 5.2.3. The Arctic contains all common main groups of pollutants, such as persistent organic pollutants 165 such as pesticides, industrial chemicals and by-products from industry and combustion, heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium and radioactive substances. This type of pollution is not very degradable. The substances can accumulate in living organisms and are toxic and can cause adverse health efects . The Arctic is basically a very clean area. There are few local sources of pollution in Svalbard and the Arctic in general. The contamination that is detected there is transported over long distances by winds and ocean currents, and is derived from human activities and industrial operations in more densely populated areas and from the industrialised world. 166 164 The Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy AEPS was formally established by the Rovaniemi Declaration in 1991. The purpose of the AEPS was to have a collaborative forum to discuss and collaborate on the Arctic environment, and all eight of the Arctic states were part of this. 165 The English term POP persistent organic pollutant is also used in Norwegian. 166 There are several reports about this including AMAP studies. Information on the topic also came up in the interview with AMAP on 13 June 2013.