The High North and Arctic Cooperation

The Minister based his presentation

on most of the following points (as well as slides)

Introduction

Slide: Polar bear. Title

• No. 1 strategic priority since 2005. However, long historic tradition for exploration of the Arctic.
• Nansen, Amundsen – forward seeing, knowledge driven, adapting to local conditions and learning from local traditions. The will to dare, to try «The Road not Taken».
• Same qualities needed to take on the opportunities and challenges in the High North today.
• However, Nansen and Amundsen could not have made it without support – from their dogs, from their crew, from benefactors.
• Illustrates the purpose of this new meeting place – a Forum for the High North. Purpose – a regular meeting place for discussion of topics of relevance to the Arctic/High North. Today the broad picture. Later meetings more issue-specific, also involving other ministries. About once – twice per term.
• The diplomatic corps important partners for us. Hope this will be a useful forum for dialogue and debate.


The no. 1 strategic foreign policy priority

Slide 2 and 3: Map

• Four overriding priorities for our High North Policy:
  • to safeguard peace and stability and provide predictability;
  • to ensure an integrated, ecosystem-based management regime that safeguards biodiversity and provides for sustainable use of resources;
  • to strengthen international cooperation and the international legal order;
  • to strengthen the basis for employment, value creation and welfare throughout the country by means of a regional and national effort in cooperation with partners from other countries and relevant indigenous groups. 
• This year’s budget (record high, close to 2 billion NOK):
  • New research vessel for Arctic waters
  • New technology building at the University of Tromsø
  • Strengthening of 47 million NOK to climate change research

Slide 4: What is "the Arctic"? (Definitions)

• Different definitions of the Arctic

Slide 5: Illustration. Arctic Ocean, sea ice, now – and then (2007)  

• Have the tools needed to meet today’s challenges in the Arctic.  
• But the Arctic is changing faster than predicted:  
• This September, sea ice covering the Arctic Ocean lowest extent in the satellite record, which began in 1979. (Reported by the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre and several research institutions around the world).  
• This ice melt occurred without the unusual weather conditions that contributed to the extreme melt of 2007. Probably reflects loss of multi-year ice in the Arctic, as well as other factors that are making the ice more vulnerable.  
• The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual Arctic Report Card (released 6 December):  
• The time of ice cover in the Northern hemisphere last winter was the second shortest ever.
• Record glacier melting at Greenland, affected 97% of Greenland’s surface.
• More extreme weather (cold, storms) in the Arctic.
• The permafrost is thawing, releasing more CO2 and methane into the atmosphere.  
• Since 1979, September Arctic ice extent has declined by 13% per decade.  
• Worrisome because:
  • Less sunlight is reflected back into space, making the Arctic heat up.
  • The melting ice cap is contributing to sea level rise.
  • Thawing permafrost accelerates the heating process – reaching a tipping point? 
• Means that the Arctic could be ice free in the summer much faster than climate models have predicted - perhaps only a few decades from now.


International political response  

• Important to act fast and to stick with ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission cuts.  
• Recent Doha climate change conference:
  • Extension of the Kyoto Protocol (Kyoto 2) until 2020. 32 industrial countries committed to further emission cuts.
  • Agreement among 25 countries to take immediate steps to reduce emissions from short-lived climate drivers, i.e. gas and soot (which are neither encompassed by the climate convention nor the Kyoto Protocol). An important method to achieve immediate positive effects in the Arctic.  
• But challenges remain: Only three years to reach a binding global agreement. Global CO2 emissions still rising by 3 per cent annually - far above the target of 2 per cent.


The Arctic’s role

 

• Climate change in the Arctic has profound effects both on the region itself and globally.  
• Also an important laboratory for studying climate change. Important to continue investments in polar and climate research.
  • Need to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response, to build new knowledge. 
• Best done in partnership – High North dialogue with interested partners an important tool in our High North policy.  
• One of those tools is the annual tour of Norway for members of the diplomatic corps and their spouses.

Slide 6: Photo, "Snøhvit", Melkøya

• The Barents Sea is emerging as a new petroleum region in Europe

Slide 7: Photo, fishing

• Combatted illegal, unreported and unregulated (IIU) fishing in the Barents Sea

Slide 8: Photo, Syd-Varanger, Kirkenes

• New potential for land-based industry

Slide 9: Map, new sea routes  

• The Arctic an ocean that brings together three of the most dynamic regions in the world.  
• Increased marine activity.

Slide 10: Illustration, integrated marine management

• Established integrated marine management as a model

Slide 11: Knowledge

• A strong focus on building new knowledge
• Establishment of the FRAM Centre in Tromsø


Legal framework in place

Slide 12: Illustration, the Law of the Sea

• Arctic vs. Antarctica (The Arctic Ocean is an ocean surrounded by land. Antarctica is a continent surrounded by sea.)   
• The legal basis for all activities in the Arctic Ocean: The Law of the Sea – the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea  
• The Ilulissat Declaration of 2008 – all coastal states bordering on the Arctic Ocean confirmed that they remain committed to the legal framework  
• No “race for the Arctic”. Most of the natural resources in the High North are uncontested  
• The Continental Shelf – The Commission on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf – Norway first coastal state in the Arctic to have outer limits of the continental shelf in the Arctic clarified  
• A process that is important also for non-Arctic states:  
• Norway supports a number of African coastal States in the preparation of their submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).   
• Our support has not been confined to scientific, technical and financial matters. We have also been advising our African partners on certain policy matters.   
• In giving advice to our African partners on these matters our experience from the High North, notably the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, has been very useful. Another experience we have drawn on is our bilateral cooperation with Russia.

Slide 13: Map

• The 2010 Agreement concerning Maritime Delimitation between Norway and Russia – based on modern principles of international law.

Slide 14: Photo, tourists at Boris Gleb, Pasvik river

• People to people contacts with Russia increased
• Russia most important Arctic actor
• Broad bilateral contacts.
• Rise in border crossings – Storskog.


The success of classical security policy

Slide 15: Photo, military  

• An extended security concept (ecological, economic, social, political security – together with territorial).  
• Security policy in a classical sense has laid the foundation.  
• Norms must be continually reinforced.  
• Increased security presence and visibility in the Arctic makes “the new security policy” possible.  

Political framework equipped to deal with the challenges

Slide 16: Map, the Arctic Council 

• The Arctic Council strengthened. SAR, instrument for oil spill preparedness and response, permanent secretariat.  
• Interest from non-Arctic actors understandable and legitimate. Developments in the Arctic have an impact on the rest of the world.   
• Many non-Arctic countries have experiences, expertise and knowledge that are useful.  
• New permanent observers: Expect decision in May. Hope to be able to include partners who have legitimate interests. Dialogue a requirement (Nuuk criteria).  
• Another Nuuk criteria – respect for Law of the Sea and coastal states’ sovereignty.

 

New actors no threat to existing framework

Slide 17: Photo, research ship "Snødragen" (China)

Conclusion

Slide 18: Photo, Svolvær, Lofoten  

• Glad to announce that next year’s tour will go to Vesterålen, Lofoten and Bodø, 3 – 5 June. Focus: Our High North strategy, including management of natural resources, petroleum, fisheries, tourism, security policy.  
• The next meetings in the Forum for the High North will provide good background for this trip. Hope you find it useful. Looking forward to good dialogue.

 

Slide 19: Title