International Governance Mechanisms and Actors Functioning in the

International Governance Mechanisms and Actors Functioning in the Arctic and their Climate Policy Päivi Kähkönen and Jaana Ojuva CIGSAC, Pyhätunturi 31. 8. -3. 9. 2006

Arctic Council n The Arctic Council is a regional forum for sustainable development, mandated to address all three of its main pillars: the environmental, social and economic. From the beginning, Arctic governments and indigenous peoples joined together to make environmental monitoring and assessment a key element of the Arctic Council's agenda. Groundbreaking reports have been prepared and have attracted global attention to the state of the Arctic environment.

n Working groups: - Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) - Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) - Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) - Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) - The Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

n The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) participated in the ACIA Steering Committee. AMAP and CAFF were the conveners of a drafting group of representatives from Arctic Council Member States and Permanent Participants, that produced early drafts of recommendations to relate the findings from ACIA to the policy needs of the Arctic Council. SAOs then assumed responsibility for the drafting of these policy recommendations.

Climate Policy n The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA): The Arctic States note with concern the ongoing warming of most of the Arctic and recognize that the impacts of global climate change can have major consequences in the Arctic. The Arctic Council's project on the assessment of the consequences of climate variability and change, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), examines present status and possible future impacts of climate change and variability and UV radiation on the environment and its living resources; on human health, and social and economic activities, as well as possible adaptations and responses.

The Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (SCPAR) n n The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region is a parliamentary body comprising delegations appointed by the national parliaments of the Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, U. S. A. ) and the European Parliament. The conference also includes Permanent Participants representing Indigenous peoples, as well as observers. The Conference and Standing Committee take initiatives to further Arctic cooperation, and act, in particular, as a parliamentary forum for issues relevant to the work of the Arctic Council.

n n n Arctic Parliamentarians have an observer status in AC Parliamentarians follow: 1. the meetings of AC senior Arctic officials 2. the meetings of sustainable development working group. ”So, these are the two ways which the parliamentarians are working. Trying to follow up and of course in traditional way to push the governments to do more or to be more precise etc. ” (Interview with K. Myhre-Jensen, SCPAR)

Climate Policy of SCPAR n The committee does not have any climate policy. They only follow up the ACIA report.

Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers n n The purpose of Nordic co-operation is to achieve more together than the individual countries are capable of on their own. They call it "Nordic synergy”. Nordic parliamentary co-operation aims to promote political, economic, environmental, social and other developments in the Nordic countries and in northern Europe. The overall objective of the current programme is for the work of the Council's Presidium and committees to focus on fewer situations and activities, but in greater depth than previously.

Climate Policy n n Climate group was established in 1996, concentrating on current energy and climate questions. “So I wouldn’t say that we have an overall climate strategy in the Nordic Council of ministers, we have many. We have the ACIA document, which we support the work with, we have the environmental ministers, they mention the ACIA work but then they also mention a few other strategies, and other things they want get involved with…So we don’t have a single one, we have many, that sort of support each other. ” (Interview with N. Bock, Nordic Council of Ministers)

Barents Euro-Arctic Region n n The primary goal of BEAC is to promote sustainable economic and social development in the Barents Region and thus contribute to peaceful development in the northernmost part of Europe. Cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region was launched in 1993 on two levels: intergovernmental (Barents Euro-Arctic Council, BEAC), and interregional (Barents Regional Council, BRC).

Climate Policy n Barents region established Arctic climate change policy measures relevant for the Barents region, based on the ACIA report. (Policy paper, which was approved in November last year, in the meeting of foreign ministers in Harstadt. ) Working group of environment was very actively involved preparing it. “We are in the situation that we promote its enforcement. ” (Interview with H. Haapala, BEAR)

EU: Northern Dimension n The Northern Dimension in the external and crossborder policies of the European Union reflects the EU’s relations with Russia (and particularly Northwest Russia) in the Baltic Sea region and Arctic Sea region. The Northern Dimension addresses the specific challenges and opportunities arising in those regions and aims to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the EU and its member states, the northern countries associated with the EU under the EEA (Norway and Iceland) and the Russian Federation.

Priority themes for dialogue and cooperation under the Northern Dimension have been identified, including - economy, business and infrastructure - human resources, education, culture, scientific research and health - the environment, nuclear safety, and natural resources - cross-border cooperation and regional development - justice and home affairs

Climate Policy n n Northern Dimension does not have its own climate policy. EU: A strategy to combat climate change represents a four-fold challenge: the climate risk itself and the political will to face up to it, international participation in efforts to tackle climate change, the innovation needed for changes in the production and use of energy, and adaptation of countries to the unavoidable effects of climate change.

Northern Forum n n The Northern Forum is a non-profit, international organization composed of sub-national or regional governments from nine northern countries (Canada, China, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, USA). Their mission is to improve the quality of life of Northern peoples by providing Northern regional leaders a means to share their knowledge and experience in addressing common challenges

UNEP/GRID-Arendal, Polar Programme n n The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has designated UNEP/GRID-Arendal as "the UNEP key centre on Polar environmental assessments and early warning issues, with particular focus on the Arctic"” The Polar Programme of UNEP/GRID-Arendal is responsible for carrying out our role as UNEP's key Polar Centre. In collaboration with numerous partners and regional stakeholders, they undertake numerous projects and initiatives that aim to: - Stakeholder processes - Assessments - Communication - Expertise

WWF Arctic n WWF’s International Arctic Programme was created in 1992 as a co-ordination office to serve as a focal point for arctic conservation issues and to promote WWF’s activities in the Arctic, whether they be in the US, Canada, Russia or Scandinavia. As well as lobbying arctic governments to accelerate conservation strategies and sustainable development in the Arctic, the Programme is also responsible for running a number of its own projects on.

Climate Policy n n n WWF has its own climate policy. National climate experts work on a variety of domestic issues, including climate and energy policy, energy projects, business cooperations, science-driven work on climate change impacts, and resistance and resilience building for communities that are already affected. The national climate campaigners are often also supporting international policy issues. WWF trains all staff in international policy and even newcomers become part of the WWF delegations to international climate conferences.

n There is a project concentrating on communication on impact of climate change in the Arctic, as an argument for an urgent action on climate change. “Also we are also in the process of developing adaptational, what we call resilience building projects, where we look at how we adapt nature management or management of natural resources to the changing environment because of climate”. (Interview with T. Folkestad, WWF Arctic)

Saami Council n The Saami Council is a voluntary Saami organization (a non–governmental organization), with Saami member organizations in Finland, Russia, Norway and Sweden. Saami Council is one of the indigenous peoples’ organizations which have existed longest. n The primary aim of the Saami Council is the promotion of Saami rights and interests in the four countries, to consolidate the feeling of affinity among the Saami people, to attain recognition for the Saami as a nation and to maintain the economic, social and cultural rights of the Saami in the legislation of the four states. This objective can be achieved through agreements between these states and the bodies representing the Saami people, the Saami parliaments.

Climate Policy n n Arctic and Environment Unit of Saami Council “We haven’t really done anything ourselves and that’s also kind of what we are seeking on how to do it. But we have kind of been active in getting other people to do it. ---we have participated in the ACIA for example. ” (Interview with G-B, Retter, Saami Council)

Inuit Circumpolar Conference n Main focus of ICC is to improve Inuit’s position in every way (protect, strengthen and develop the Inuit rights). They aim to strengthen the unity among all the Inuit of the circumpolar region. Environment is a relatively big part of it since they live with the nature.

Climate Policy n “We have, ICC has it’s own book called ‘Principles and elements for a comprehensive Arctic policies’. And we have developed it in 1992 and we are in a process of reviewing it now. Most of what our policies cover like are the policy goals of Inuit rights, peace and insecurity issues, environmental issues, social issues, cultural issues, economic issues, integration and scientific issues and intimidation. ” (Interview with C. C. Olsen, ICC)

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North n The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) was formed by the first Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and Far East. RAIPON is a non-government organization formed on territorial and territorial-ethnic principles and comprising thirty regional ethnic associations of indigenous peoples of the North.

n Its main purpose is to protect the interests and lawful rights of the peoples it represents, including their right to land, natural resources, and self-government in accordance with international standards and Russian legislation, and their right to resolve their own social and economic problems. RAIPON also provides assistance in cultural development and education, promotes international exchange and cooperation, and organizes humanitarian aid.

Summary n n n 11 organisations 4 climate policies ACIA Project-oriented work Produce and disseminate information