The big picture: Environmental challenges in the Arctic The Arctic – Europe’s last wilderness In extreme change – Do EU have a role in the Arctic? Bellona seminar in Tromsø Næringslivets hus Wednesday 21st January 2015 Sigurd Enge Bellona in the Arctic The Seven “Plagues” of the Arctic • • • • • • • Climate changes Acidification Transboundary pollutants Radioactive contamination Petroleum and mining industry Shipping Invasive species Who is going to save the Arctic • • • • • • • • Arctic Council? UNCLOS – Law of the Seas? IMO - Polarcode? The peole of Arctic? China, India og Singapore? The whole world? Norway? EU? The role of The European Union in the Arctic What instruments do EU have to influence Arctic policy? EU is a consumer of Arctic products EU is a contributor in research and development Norway is a part of European Economic Area EU is committed to the climate challenges EU have experience to getting nations to agree EU should enter as an observer to the Arctic Council! Arctic Shipping Air Emissions accelerates ice and snow melting and increases footprint No documented method to recover oil in ice Use of LNG propulsion will eliminate both soot and the risk of oil spills Hybridelectric propulsion is real Arctic waters is the place to apply new technology Nansen used windmills to produce electricity. Petroleum was to space consuming! We want to go in Nansens footsteps! • • • • Petroleum Activity in Arctic Waters Risk = probability x consequences The consequences have a big potential Soot emission colors the ice darker Discharge of produced water with unknown impact • Arctic oil is expensive to extract • If some oil should stay in ground – Arctic oil? • Norway is battling for the ice edge just now Saturn – November 2014 The Arctic needs limits and minimum standards Pechora sea - Russia Kulluk – 2012 Alaska - USA Kolskaya – 2011 Sakhalin - Russia Scarabeo 8 – 2012 Barents sea - Norway How to develop a sustainable Arctic Big challenges demands smart and brave solutions Bellona-report: Sustainable solutions for business activities in the Arctic Supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sustainable: • Energy production • Mining • Integrated aquaculture Coal powerplant In Barentsburg Uranium mines on Greenland Ocean Space Senter ”It is likely that something unlikely will happen" Aristoteles, year 384 - 322 BC Hold matfatet rent! Takk for oppmerksomheten Sigurd Enge clean! Keep the Arctic Miljøstiftelsen Bellona Thanks for your attention! Sigurd Enge Bellona Foundation [email protected]
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