Norway, Canada: Likeminded Partners in the North

When the present Norwegian government took office in 2005, it declared the High North a top national priority. In December 2006, the government presented its comprehensive High North Strategy, which involves most of the government ministries. Last month in Ottawa, Norway and Canada held the third series of meetings in our ongoing, comprehensive dialogue on the Arctic and northern areas. These meetings have further strengthened Norway’s conviction that our two countries have common views and interests in the region. I am pleased to note that we can learn practical lessons from each other and that we are already benefiting from useful co-operation. However, there is still potential for us to work more closely together.

The North is important to Canada, as it is for Norway. The main drivers behind the increased interest in the North are climate change, energy issues and resource management. In order to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address the challenges we face, we need to look ahead and prepare for the changes ahead. Norway is taking a comprehensive approach, and our High North Strategy has a horizon of several generations. Key themes of the strategy are presence, activity, knowledge and international co-operation. Norway will continue its close multilateral and bilateral co-operation with other circumpolar actors.

The Arctic has been referred to as the “canary in the coal mine” of global climate change, since it is here that effects are first becoming apparent. The landmark Arctic Climate Impact Assessment published in 2004 by the Arctic Council showed that climate change is taking place sooner and is more dramatic in the Arctic than elsewhere. The council is now carrying out a comprehensive follow-up study on the retreat of the sea ice, the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, and changes in the permafrost and snow cover.

The Arctic Council is the only circumpolar forum for Arctic intergovernmental co-operation. It is also unique in that its system of Permanent Participants allows indigenous peoples to address member states on an equal footing. With heightened international interest in the Arctic, the council is more important than ever. Norway is chairing the Arctic Council until April 2009, and will continue to work towards further strengthening of its role.

The Arctic Ocean Conference in Illulissat, Greenland, in May this year confirmed the Arctic coastal states’ commitment to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the point of departure for how we deal with our responsibilities in the Arctic. We see no need to develop new international legal instruments to regulate the Arctic Ocean.

The Arctic is an important region for global climate change research. Svalbard offers a unique and well-established infrastructure for international research and easy access to the Arctic. Norway has substantial experience in infrastructure management in this region. The High North Strategy has increased the attention on the Svalbard research platform and improved its funding.

Indeed, research and knowledge are at the core of this strategy. In addition to seeking knowledge about climate change using our northern research infrastructure, we are seeking knowledge about the northern areas themselves and the changes happening there. The Norwegian Government has significantly increased the funding of research on the High North over the last few years. We are pleased to note Canada’s plans for a new High Arctic research station and the fact that it is making use of experience gained by other countries, for example at Norway’s Ny Ålesund research centre in Svalbard.

Energy and living marine resources are important topics in any discussion of the North. Surveys indicate that a significant proportion of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas reserves are in the Arctic. Another important resource in this region is fish. Norway has a long tradition and considerable experience of responsible management of our fisheries in co-operation with other countries.

A key aspect of Norway’s High North Strategy is a long-term, comprehensive approach to economic activity and environmental stewardship. In March 2006, the government presented an integrated management plan for the marine environment and the resources in the Barents Sea–Lofoten area. It seeks to balance environmental concerns with industrial interests and to balance the interests of different industries such as oil and gas, fisheries and maritime transport.

One example of a practical initiative is BarentsWatch, a pioneering Norwegian research project on real-time monitoring of ships and the environment using satellites and other sensors. There may be future opportunities for expanding this initiative to include several other countries, including Canada.

Norway has a 1,000-year history of peaceful and practical co-operation with its neighbour Russia, through difficult and easier times alike. Like Canada, Norway believes it is important to engage Russia in binding international agreements and pragmatic co-operation. The Norwegian Government still firmly retains this belief, despite recent events in Georgia, but at the same time, we will not compromise on unambiguous support for respect for international law.

Norway has established bilateral dialogues with Canada and other countries on Arctic and northern issues, and considers these dialogues to be complementary to larger arenas such as the Arctic Council. As a like-minded country, Canada is an important and natural partner for Norway. We should build on the work that has been done and the experience that we have gained. Last month’s meetings in Ottawa offered an opportunity to strengthen existing co-operation and identify new areas of collaboration. The dialogue will continue when we meet next spring in Norway. Canada and Norway share a desire to address issues relating to the Arctic and northern areas both bilaterally and multilaterally, and we are looking forward to making further progress together.