Marine Policy
Responding to Climate Change - The ongoing work of the U.S. National Academies Committee on America's Climate Choices - Donald F. Boesch
The ongoing work of the U.S. National Academies Committee on America's Climate Choices was the topic of a Transatlantic Dinner Dialogue on 23 March 2010 in honour of Donald F. Boesch. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) addresses critical national issues and gives advice based on scientific findings to the U.S. Government and the public. Don Boesch is a Professor of Marine Science and President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and is a member of the 'Overarching Committee' of the U.S. National Academies Committee on America's Climate Choices. Read more ...
DeutschArctic Footprint and Policy Assessment
The Arctic is often referred to as the bellwether of global climate change. According to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment and the most recent assessment from IPCC, the warming rate is twice that of the global average, with predictions of further increases leading to substantial loss of Arctic sea ice and large-scale thawing of the permafrost. The Arctic has also been a bellwether for the impact of long-range transboundary air pollution, both regarding human health and how pollutants affect wildlife. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals (e.g. mercury) are transported long distances through air and water, are deposited in the Arctic and bioaccumulate through the food chain. Some indigenous peoples have a high exposure to these pollutants, primarily through their diet. The goal of this project is to improve the effectiveness of EU environmental policies with respect to the Arctic region. Read more ...
Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptation in the Marine Arctic
The Arctic TRANSFORM project, funded by the European Commission‘s Directorate General of External Relations, engaged experts in a transatlantic discussion of five Arctic-related thematic areas: indigenous peoples, environmental governance, fisheries, offshore hydrocarbon activities, and shipping. Expert working groups addressed each thematic area with the goal of developing policy options for the Arctic marine area. This policy brief draws upon a series of background papers, expert meetings and interviews to provide an overview of the international and EU governance options for addressing the rapid changes underway in the region. Read more ...
Arctic Shipping
Current Arctic marine shipping is mainly intra-Arctic. Since 2000, there have only been a small number of trans-Arctic voyages in summer for science and tourism across the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route. The main consequence of climate change for Arctic marine shipping is contained in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)’s key finding that “reduced sea ice is very likely to increase marine transport and access to resources”. This background paper, prepared by Erik J. Molenaar and Robert Corell for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, focuses on intra-Arctic and trans-Arctic marine shipping in the Arctic marine area. Read more ...
Arctic Fisheries
This background paper, prepared by Erik J. Molenaar and Robert Corell for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, focuses on fisheries that occur in the Arctic marine area, including fisheries for anadromous species that spawn in rivers that flow directly into the Arctic marine area. The paper follows a sectoral perspective, but in pursuance of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). Due to this sectoral perspective, the focus will be exclusively on international instruments and intergovernmental and other relevant international bodies that relate to, or pursue, conservation as well as management. No attention will therefore be paid to those that focus exclusively on conservation of species and habitat by various means, including by the regulation of international trade. Read more ...
Comparative policy analysis: US, EU and transatlantic Arctic policy
This policy analysis, prepared for the Arctic TRANSFORM project, provides a comparative analysis of EU and U.S. policy relevant to dealing with the effects of climate change in Arctic marine areas. Read more ...
Transatlantic Policy Options for Supporting Adaptation in the Marine Arctic: Summary for Policy Makers
This policy brief draws upon a series of background papers, expert meetings, and interviews to provide an overview of the international and EU governance options for addressing the rapid changes underway in the region. While reflecting the opinions of its authors, this policy brief benefits from the opinions and insights of the experts participating in the five thematic working groups of Arctic TRANSFORM. Read more ...
Offshore Hydrocarbon in the Arctic
This background paper, prepared by the Arctic Centre in September 2008 as part of the Arctic TRANSFORM project addresses the magnitude of current oil and gas activities in the offshore Arctic and outlines the potential environmental, social and economic consequences of the offshore hydrocarbon activities. It examines the international legal framework for offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic, including transboundary environmental assessment of oil and gas activities and addresses the current policy context in offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic. Read more ...
Indigenous peoples in the Arctic
The aim of this paper, prepared by the Arctic Centre in September 2008 as part of the Arctic TRANSFORM project, is to present the situation of the Arctic indigenous peoples in relation to the changing marine environment. Read more ...
Environmental Governance in the Arctic
This paper presents an overview of the existing institutional and legal framework relevant to environmental governance, as well as formal and informal governance structures in the Arctic marine area. It highlights the complexity of approaches applicable at the local, regional and international scales, rather than identifying gaps in governance at the sectoral scale. Read more ...
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