Common Concern for the Arctic Conference arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers 9–10 September 2008, Ilulissat, Greenland Conference report Common Concern for the Arctic Conference arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers 9–10 September 2008, Ilulissat, Greenland ANP 2008:750 Common Concern for the Arctic Conference arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers 9–10 September 2008, Ilulissat, Greenland ANP 2008:750 © Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2008 ISBN 978-92-893-1768-9 Print: Scanrint as, Århus 2008 Cover: Publication Unit, Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) Cover photos: Nikolaj Bock (NCM) and Greenland.com Copies: 700 Printed on environmentally friendly paper This publication can be ordered on www.norden.org/order. Other Nordic publications are available at www.norden.org/publications Printed in Denmark Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council Store Strandstræde 18 Store Strandstræde 18 DK-1255 Copenhagen K DK-1255 Copenhagen K Phone (+45) 3396 0200 Phone (+45) 3396 0400 Fax (+45) 3396 0202 Fax (+45) 3311 1870 www.norden.org Nordic co-operation Nordic cooperation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and three autonomous areas: the Faroe Islands, Green- land, and Åland. Nordic cooperation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic cooperation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Table of Content 1. Introduction..................................................................................................... 11 2. Conference Conclusions..................................................................................13 Chairman’s Conclusions Ambassador Hans Corell, Former Legal Counsel of the United Nations ................. 15 Summary Delivered at the Concluding Session Mr János Herman, Principal Adviser – Deputy Political Director, DG RELEX, European Commission.............................................................................................. 33 3. Opening Session.............................................................................................. 39 Welcome Address Ms Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation ...................... 39 Opening Remarks Mr Johan Tiedemann, State Secretary, Ministry of Health & Social Affairs, Sweden ..................................................................................................................... 40 Opening Remarks Ambassador Hans Corell, Former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs of the United Nations, Chairman of the Conference................................................. 41 Opening Remarks Mr Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary General, Nordic Council of Ministers............... 43 Key Note Address Dr Joe Borg, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, EU Commission........................................................................................................ 45 Key Note Address Ambassador Laurent Stefanini, French Presidency of the European Council.......... 49 Key Note Address Ms Diana Wallis, Vice President, European Parliament ......................................... 51 4. Setting the scene..............................................................................................57 Environmental and Climate Change in the Arctic – Sea Ice as an Indicator and Integrator Dr David Carlson, Director, International Polar Year Programme Office ............... 57 Globalization, Social Issues and Arctic Livelihood Dr. Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, Senior Research Fellow, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development (Nordregio)............................................................................. 60 The European Union and the Arctic – Policies and Actions Ms Adele Airoldi, Milieu Ltd.................................................................................... 65 5. Panel discussion ..............................................................................................69 Panel 1: Terrestrial Living Resources ................................................................. 71 Introduction –Terrestrial Living Resources Mr Jan Vapaavuori, Finland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation ............................ 72 Climate Change and Reindeer Management Ms Malin Brännström, Legal Advisor, National Union of the Swedish Sámi People................................................................................................ 74 Arctic Terrestrial Ecosystem Responses to a Warming Climate Dr Jesper Madsen, Director of Research Department, National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Denmark................................................ 76 6 Common Concern for the Arctic Sustainable Use of Timberline Forest and Climate Change Mr Yrjö Eljas Norokorpi, Area Manager, Natural Heritage Services of Metsähallitus, Finland ...............................................................................................78 Europe’s Responsibility for Combined and Cumulative Effects on Arctic Environmental Change Mr David Stanners, Head of Programme, Strategic Knowledge and Innovation, European Environment Agency (EEA) ..................................................81 Panel 2: Marine Living Resources.......................................................................86 Introduction – Marine Living Resources Ms Diana Wallis MEP. Vice President, European Parliament ..................................87 Arctic Marine Ecosystems and Marine Living Resources Management Mr Poul Degnbol, Scientific Adviser, DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, EU Commission ........................................................................................................88 Sustainable Use of Marine Living Resources Mr Aqqaluk Lynge, President, Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), Greenland............90 Marine Living Resources and Climate Change: Implications for Future Environmental Policies Professor Jacqueline McGlade , Executive Director, European Environment Agency (EEA)...........................................................................................................92 Marine Living Resources of the Arctic: Some Future Perspectives Mr Jóhann Sigurjónsson, Director General, Marine Research Institute, Iceland.......................................................................................................................95 Panel 3: Non-Renewable Resources – New opportunities and Concerns............98 Introduction – Non-Renewable Resources – New opportunities and Concerns Ms Heidi Grande Røys, Norway’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation.......................99 Norway: Oil and gas resources in the Arctic Ms Mette Karine Gravdahl Agerup, Assistant Director General, Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Norway...............................................................................100 Environmental Challenges and the Way Forward Mr Claude Rouam, Head of Unit for Enlargement and Neighbouring Countries, DG ENV, EU Commission .....................................................................................103 Managing the Arctic in Times of Rapid Change Dr. Martin Sommerkorn, Senior Climate Change Advisor, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)...................................................................................................106 The EU Perspective for Energy and Maritime Transport Mr Dimitrios Theologitis Head of Unit, Maritime Transport, DG TREN, EU Commission ......................................................................................................108 IMO and Arctic Ice-Covered Waters Mr Joseph N. Westwood-Booth, Head of Marine Technology Section, International Maritime Organisation (IMO), United Nations..................................115 Panel 4 – Local Development – Capacity Building in the Arctic......................119 Introduction – Local Development – Capacity Building in the Arctic Mr Bertel Haarder, Denmark’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation .........................120 EU – Greenland Partnership Ms Linn Harkess, Programme Manager, Europeaid, European Commission..........121 Canada’s Experience: Local Development and Capacity Building Mr Russel Shearer, Director, Northern Science and Contaminants Research Directorate, Indian and Northern Affairs, Canada...................................................124 Partnership between the EU and Greenland, from 2007–13 Ms Lida Skifte Lennert, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greenland................................................................................................................125 Common Concern for the Arctic 7 Adjusting the Northern Dimension to the New Challenges of the Arctic and the Indigenous Peoples Mr Pavel Sulyandziga, First Vice-President, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) .......................................................... 127 Panel 5 Arctic Research – Science and Traditional knowledge ........................ 129 Introduction – Arctic Research – Science and Traditional knowledge Dr David Carlson, Director, International Polar Year Programme Office ............. 130 Enhancing the Coordination and Integration of European Research Activities in the Arctic Region and Perspectives for International Science Cooperation Dr Paul Egerton, Executive