EU: High North Policy Coalescing

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution titled: “A sustainable EU policy for the High North” (P7_TA-PROV(2011)0024). Therein, MPs respond to the increasing stake of the EU in the Arctic through its Arctic member states; Denmark, Sweden and Finland, while recognizing the ongoing work in several other partnerships. Considering the contribution that the EU and its Member States are making through research and funding, as well as the impact of respective legislation on the environment, climate, and fisheries, it is concluded that the EU requires a structure to ensure a coherent, coordinated and integrated policy approach.

Global perceptions of Arctic Security: Report

A new public opinion research report has been released on global perceptions of Arctic security titled: Rethinking the Top of the World: Arctic Security Public Opinion Survey. The results show that the concept of Arctic security is no longer understood in terms of traditional definition of security, but is rather comprehended in terms of environmental protection and a healthy and educated population.

USA: Polar Bears and Oil Development

The Center for Biological Diversity formally notified Secretary Ken Salazar on 13 January that it intends to sue the Department of Interior (DOI) for violating a final ruling designating 187,157 square miles of critical polar bear habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although the rule became effective on January 6, the plaintiffs assert that DOI continues to authorize offshore oil and gas leasing, exploration and development activities in and near the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in violation of the designation. Full text of the notice: http://thehill.com/images/stories/blogs/energy/polarlawsuit.pdf.

An additional formal notification has been sent to Secretary Salazar from a coalition of Alaska native groups lead by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) and the North Slope Borough contending that DOI’s final ruling ignored their concerns when it designated the coastal areas of the North Slope as critical habitat for polar bears. The letter states inter alia that such a designation will impair Alaska Natives' ability to benefit from their own resources and potentially cost the state of Alaska billions of dollars from delayed offshore drilling projects, while not mitigating the threat of climate change, which is the primary threat to polar bears.

EU: Arctic Footprint and Policy Assessment

A study commissioned by the European Commission, DG Environment aims to improve the effectiveness of EU environmental policies with respect to the Arctic region. It analyzes the effectiveness of the EU's current environment-related policies, including how these policies relate to current and future footprint scenarios and presents options for improving EU policy. AFPA Report Summary

"The politics of security and international law in Norway’s Arctic waters"

This new article by Øystein Jensen and Svein Vigeland Rottem recently appeared in Polar Record 46 (236) on pages 75–83.


Online at: http://www.fni.no/doc&pdf/OYJ-SVR-PR-2010.pdf

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Clarifies Basis for Listing Polar Bear as “Threatened” Under the Endangered Species Act

On 22 December, 2010, the US Fish and Wildlife Service clarified for the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC the legal basis for its 2008 decision to protect the polar bear as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and confirmed for the Court that the designation was consistent with the Service’s longstanding science-based practices in determining the appropriate listing status for a given species. The “threatened” designation of the polar bear under the ESA does not change as a result of the Court filing.

Read the full news release at: http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=112606&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True

Extensive background on the listing is accesible online at: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/esa.htm

Upcoming Arctic Council SAO Meeting

The next meeting of the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials (SAOs) will take place from 16-17 March, 2011 in Copenhagen (Denmark) at Eigtvedt Pakhus (near Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Additional information will be released at: http://arctic-council.org/meeting/sao_meeting_-_copenhagen.

Final Report: Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials Meeting, 19-20 October 2010, Tórshavn (Greenland

The Final Report from the most recent Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials Meeting has been posted on the Arctic Council's website at: http://arctic-council.org/filearchive/final_report_sao_mtng_19-20oct10_web.pdf.