Norwegian Interests and Policy in the Antarctic
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Meld. St. 32 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norwegian Interests and Policy Internet address: www.government.no in the Antarctic Cover illustration: Norwegian Polar Institute Printed by: 07 Aurskog AS 05/2016 E JØM RKE IL T M 2 4 9 1 7 3 Trykksak Meld. St. 32 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) Norwegian Interests and Policy in the Antarctic Translation from Norwegian. For information only. Contents 1 Introduction ................................. 5 7.2 A simple, yet very complex, biological environment .................. 44 2Primary goals .............................. 8 7.3 Cultural heritage ............................ 45 7.4 External impacts – hard to 3 Norway’s history in the control ............................................. 47 Antarctic ........................................ 10 7.5 Growing activity poses a challenge 3.1 Historic backdrop .......................... 10 to environmental objectives .......... 49 3.2 History of the treaty system ......... 19 8 Business activity and resource 4 International legal management ................................. 51 framework ..................................... 23 8.1 Introduction .................................... 51 4.1 The Antarctic Treaty ...................... 23 8.2 Fisheries and fisheries 4.2 The Protocol on Environmental management ................................... 51 Protection to the Antarctic 8.3 Norwegian policy in CCAMLR ..... 55 Treaty .............................................. 25 8.4 Norwegian fisheries ....................... 58 4.3 Convention on the Conservation 8.5 Tourism in the Antarctic ................ 60 of Antarctic Marine Living 8.6 Space activities ............................... 62 Resources ....................................... 27 8.7 Shipping .......................................... 64 8.8 Bioprospecting: Collection and 5 Legislation ................................... 30 use of genetic resources from 5.1 Introduction .................................... 30 the Antarctic ................................... 65 5.2 The Dependencies Act .................. 31 5.3 Environmental and safety 9 Logistics, infrastructure, regulations in the Antarctic .......... 33 search and rescue ...................... 68 5.4 Other relevant legislation .............. 33 9.1 Troll and Troll Airfield: Norwegian 5.5 Need for a review of legislation .... 34 activity hub in Dronning Maud Land ................................................. 68 6 Research and knowledge ......... 35 9.2 Troll: A green station ..................... 69 6.1 The value of Norwegian research 9.3 Logistical solutions: Environment, in the Antarctic ............................... 35 safety and economy ........................ 70 6.2 Status of Norwegian research 9.4 Air and ship transport – room for in the Antarctic ............................... 36 development ................................... 70 6.3 Infrastructure ................................. 36 9.5 Troll: Future hub in Dronning 6.4 Expertise ......................................... 37 Maud Land with high 6.5 International cooperation .............. 38 environmental and safety 6.6 Goals for Norwegian research standards ......................................... 71 in the Antarctic ............................... 38 9.6 Search and rescue in the Antarctic 71 6.7 The need for knowledge in connection with climate change ... 40 10 Financial and administrative 6.8 Topographical and geological implications .................................. 74 mapping .......................................... 42 Appendix 7 Climate and environment ......... 43 1 Abbreviations .................................. 75 7.1 Environmental goals and challenges ....................................... 43 Norwegian Interests and Policy in the Antarctic Recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 12 June 2015, approved in the Council of State the same date. (Solberg Government) 1 Introduction Norwegian Antarctic policy has been centred on Norway claims substantial territories in the the assertion of Norwegian sovereignty claims Antarctic: Dronning Maud Land and Peter I Øy. and on the furtherance of international coopera Pursuant to the Antarctic Treaty, the territorial tion to ensure peaceful development of the Antarc claims remain fixed for as long as the Treaty is in tic region. This policy has remained consistent for force. No party to the Treaty can be deemed to many years. However, no full-scale review of Nor have renounced its claims; nor can any new claims way’s policy in the Antarctic has previously been be made on the basis of activities taking place undertaken, so no white paper or other compre while the Treaty is in effect. The Antarctic Treaty hensive report has been issued that sets out the has also given rise to several other international policy framework. At a time of growing interest agreements, which – in combination with the and activity in the Antarctic by actors from Nor Treaty itself – are often referred to as the Antarc way and other countries, the Government has tic Treaty System. Norway plays an active role in concluded that a broad-based presentation of international collaboration associated with the developments in the Antarctic and of Norwegian Antarctic Treaty, including the Protocol on Envi interests in the region is needed. The aim of this ronmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the white paper is to explain Norway’s key policy con Environment Protocol) and the Convention the siderations in the Antarctic and what the policy Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living should be in the years ahead. Resources (the CAMLR Convention). The international cooperation that has occurred under the Antarctic Treaty of 1 Decem Background ber 1959 has largely been successful. It has kept Norway has long traditions as a polar nation, both an entire continent outside the fluctuations of in the north and the south. Norwegian Antarctic world politics, and has made possible an unprece history reflects the country’s yearning for discov dented level of international scientific cooperation ery, its scientific curiosity, its business interests while laying the groundwork for a joint commit and its political engagement since the 1890s to the ment by the treaty parties to extensive environ present day. But Norway’s Antarctic history is not mental protection. The cooperative approach has only the story of Norwegian activity in the Antarc worked so well because all parties have seen it as tic. It is also the story of Norway as a key player in being in their interest to reach common solutions. the development of the international cooperative Norway has a long history as a research regime for the Antarctic region. nation and industrial actor in and around Antarc tica. Today the country operates a year-round 6 Meld. St. 32 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) 2014–2015 Norwegian Interests and Policy in the Antarctic Figure 1.1 Map of the Antarctic. Source: Norwegian Polar Institute. research station (Troll) in Dronning Maud Land to develop effective solutions for management of and sends frequent research expeditions into the the area covered by the Treaty. Norway was waters around Antarctica. Norwegian companies, active, for example, in the talks that led to the Ant meanwhile, fish in those waters, operate tours as arctic Treaty’s Environment Protocol. Norwegian part of the Antarctic travel industry and supply Antarctic policy emphasises the core values that satellite downlink services from Troll. underpin t he international partnership in the Norwegian Antarctic policy has remained con region – peace, scientific research and environ stant over a long period of time. It is focused delib mental protection. erately on Norway’s special interests as a claim Since there has been no previous strategic ant, while striving for solid, effective international review of Norway’s Antarctic policy, there is no collaboration, especially under the umbrella of the existing white paper or comprehensive document Antarctic Treaty. Norway has played a central role that outlines the country’s policy framework for in this Treaty’s collaboration and has worked hard the region. Yet we have entered a time when more 2014–2015 Meld. St. 32 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) 7 Norwegian Interests and Policy in the Antarctic and more actors are reporting an interest in pur polar nation in the south. The Government aims suing activities in the Antarctic. Because of the to present an overall view of Norwegian interests increased diversity of actors and activities, the and Norwegian policies, so that this document Antarctic Treaty System agenda has grown in can serve as both a political administrative docu breadth and complexity. This white paper is about ment and a source of information for the broader Norwegian policies and Norwegian interests public. within the scope of the Antarctic Treaty System, Norway’s Antarctic policy is intended to pro which includes the Norwegian dependencies of vide guidance and operating parameters for the Dronning Maud Land and Peter I Øy. The third following: Norwegian dependency, Bouvetøya, lies north of – Safeguarding the interests of Norway as a the Antarctic Treaty’s area of application. Bou claimant state. vetøya is undisputed Norwegian territory. The – Fulfilling international obligations, especially Government has found it appropriate to submit a those related to the Antarctic Treaty, the separate white paper