Climate Change on the agenda

Climate change in the Arctic was an important topic when Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials - the so called SAO's,  met in Narvik, Norway on November 28-29. 

Arctic issues are high on government agendas for many reasons, not least of which because of the challenges posed by climate change. The large number of non-Arctic observer states and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations participating in the meeting demonstrates the increased interest in the work of the Arctic Council, said SAO-Chair Karsten Klepsvik from Norway.

Announcement by the USA and Finland to co-lead the Arctic Council's Arctic Biodiversity Assessment was a highlight of the meeting. Other highlights included:  A progress report on Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment that will assess current and future marine activity and associated environmental and socio-economic implications. SAOs welcomed the good progress to further develop the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, and cooperation with partners on a Sustained Arctic Observing Network (SAON). The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program reported on its Human Heath Assessment that will be completed in 2009. SAOs agreed to expand the Arctic Contaminants Action Program work to remove local sources of contamination and improve environmental conditions in indigenous communities. The Emergency Presentation, Preparedness and Response working group reported on activities to address the challenges of responding to oil spill accidents in the arctic environment.

SAOs also noted progress on implementing the Arctic Council work on adaptation to climate change. A proposal by the USA to hold a Joint Meeting of the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) on April 13, 2009 during the ATCM IPY Day was endorsed.