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At the invitation of the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Premier of Greenland, representatives of the five coastal States bordering on the Arctic Ocean - Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America - met at the political level on 28 May 2008 in Ilulissat, Greenland, to hold discussions, They adopted the Ilulissat Declaration.
This framework provides a solid foundation for responsible management by the five coastal States and other users of this Ocean through national implementation and application of relevant provisions. We therefore see no need to develop a new comprehensive international legal regime to govern the Arctic Ocean. We will keep abreast of the developments in the Arctic Ocean and continue to implement appropriate measures.
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The Ballast Water Management Convention, adopted in 2004, aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms from one region to another, by establishing standards and procedures for the management and control of ships' ballast water and sediments.
Under the Convention, all ships in international traffic are required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific ballast water management plan. All ships will also have to carry a ballast water record book and an international ballast water management certificate. The ballast water management standards will be phased in over a period of time. As an intermediate solution, ships should exchange ballast water mid-ocean. However, eventually, most ships will need to install an onboard ballast water treatment system.
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments is not yet in force. It will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage.
All Arctic states are parties to the Convention but Iceland and the US. The convention does not apply to Faroe and Greenland.
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As set out in Article 1, the objective of the Stockholm Convention is to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, become widely distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and wildlife, and have harmful impacts on human health or on the environment.
Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) can lead to serious health effects including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease, and damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Given their long-range transport, no one government acting alone can protect its citizens or its environment from POPs.
In response to this global problem, the Stockholm Convention, which was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, requires its parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.
All Arctic States are party to the Convention, but the US, which signed but not ratified in 2001. The treaty does not apply to Greenland.
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The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2001, and are referred to as the "Marrakesh Accords." Its first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. In 2011, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper withdrew Canada from the Kyoto Protocol.
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The Ottawa Declaration of the Arctic Council is a foundational document that was signed on September 19, 1996, in Ottawa, Canada. The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum that aims to promote cooperation, coordination, and interaction among the Arctic states, as well as with the indigenous communities of the region.
The Ottawa Declaration established the Arctic Council as a high-level forum for discussing and addressing issues related to sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic region. The declaration sets out the objectives, structure, and activities of the Arctic Council, and outlines the roles and responsibilities of its members and participants.
One of the key objectives of the Arctic Council, as stated in the Ottawa Declaration, is to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic region. The council works to achieve this goal by encouraging scientific research and monitoring, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and supporting the conservation of Arctic ecosystems and biodiversity.
The Ottawa Declaration also emphasizes the importance of working in partnership with the indigenous peoples of the Arctic region. The declaration recognizes the traditional knowledge and expertise of these communities, and highlights the need for their participation and consultation in all aspects of Arctic governance and decision-making.
Overall, the Ottawa Declaration of the Arctic Council represents a significant milestone in international cooperation for the Arctic region and provides a framework for addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing this important and rapidly changing part of the world.