R6: The EGP calls for a new binding legal regime to protect the Arctic

The European Green Party considers conservation and protection of the oceans an urgent matter in the face of the climate and nature crisis. In a rapidly changing ocean, a more accessible Arctic region is more vulnerable than ever to environmental and, industrial and geopolitical military conflicts, calling for an updated, coordinated and special approach to governance.

The European Green Party considers conservation and protection of the oceans an urgent matter in the face of the climate and nature crisis. In a rapidly changing ocean, a more accessible Arctic region is more vulnerable than ever to environmental and industrial conflicts, calling for an updated, coordinated and special approach to governance. Apart from the conservation of the Arctic and its nature, this governance will also prevent military conflicts over the Arctic.

The European Green Party considers conservation and protection of the oceans an urgent matter in the face of the climate and natureenvironmental crisis. In a rapidly changing ocean, a more accessible Arctic region is more vulnerable than ever to environmental and industrial conflicts, calling for an updated, coordinated, demilitarised and special supportive of local population approach to its future governance.

The European Green Party considers conservation and protection of the oceans an urgent matter in the face of the climate and nature crisis. In aan Arctic ocean, rapidly changing oceandue to the melting of the polar ice cap, a more accessible Arctic region is more vulnerable than ever to environmental and industrial conflicts, calling for an updated, coordinated and special approach to governance.

The Arctic holds some of the world’s most sensitive and fragile marine areas, in which the marine environment is under a constant threat from human activities. As climate change and rising temperatures cause ice-covered areas to decrease in volume, decision-makers see commercial and industrial opportunities rather than conservatory and preservatory ones. The Arctic is warming up to three times faster than the rest of the planet. The melting of ice and thawing of permafrost in the Arctic further accelerate climate change and have huge knock-on effects. Offshore drilling and other oil and gas activities and exploration activities for other (mineral) resources, pose many dangers to the Arctic marine environment, such as operational pollution, rubbish and sewage, an influx of peoples, air pollution, noise and light pollution, and emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, to mention a few. In addition, new opportunities for fishing and shipping threatens the unregulated areas in the Arctic.

The Arctic holds some of the world’s most sensitive and fragile marine areas, in which the marine environment is under a constant threat from human activities. As climate change and rising temperatures cause ice-covered areas to decrease in volume, decision-makers see commercial and industrial opportunities rather than conservatory and preservatory ones. The Arctic is warming up to three times faster than the rest of the planet. The melting of ice and thawing of permafrost in the Arctic further accelerate climate change and have huge knock-on effects to oceans, sea levels and climate stability. Offshore drilling and other oil and gas activities pose many dangers to the Arctic marine environment, such as operational pollution, rubbish and sewage, an influx of peoples, air pollution, noise and light pollution, and emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, to mention a few. In addition, new opportunities for fishing and shipping threatens the unregulated areas in the Arctic.

The Arctic holds some of the world’s most sensitive and fragile marine areas, in which the marine environment is under a constant threat from human activities. As climate change and rising temperatures cause ice-covered areas to decrease in volume, decision-makers see commercial and industrial opportunities rather than conservatory and preservatory ones. The Arctic is warming up to three times faster than the rest of the planet. The melting of ice and thawing of permafrost in the Arctic further accelerate climate change and have huge knock-on effects. Offshore drilling and other oil and gas activities pose many dangers to the Arctic marine environment, such as operational pollution, rubbish and sewage, an influx of peoples, air pollution, noise and light pollution, and emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, to mention a few. In addition, new opportunities for fishing and shipping threatens the unregulated areas in the Arctic and affect local populations, especially indigenous ones, which culture, traditions and languages should be preserved.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas and other (mineral) resources oriented operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. InThe Arctic demands protection under all circumstances, but in the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands it needs further protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas and other (mineral) resources oriented activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and, gas and other (mineral) resources from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports The EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports, given the fast growing traffic along the Northern Route, as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment MechanismEU Emission Trading System, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the EU has taken important initiatives for conservation of the Arctic, the European Green Party wishes to further this stance through specifying the objectives, framework and targets by urging the development of a legally binding regional agreement that regulates and prevents oil and gas operations in the Arctic. In the face of a complete meltdown, the Arctic region demands protection in accordance with the changing sea ice persistence. The EU should use its economic and political weight to enforce regulatory tools to ensure a moratorium on oil and gas activities in the Arctic. As with imports of food to ensure food security, and the current proposal on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the EU should use its ability to enforce emission reduction requirements on ships navigating through the Arctic to European ports as well as imposing a ban on imports of oil and gas from the region.

While the Arctic Ocean consists of vast areas which provide for the freedom of the high seas, and the Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Fish Stocks Agreement provide a relevant and extensive overview of the management of the Arctic region, there is no legally binding instrument in which the region is managed. While Regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) exist across international waters, there is a lack of regional management in the Pan-Arctic region for both international as well as territorial waters. Climate change’s impact on ecosystems could lead to intensified competition between fisheries, causing stress for the environment. The lack of regulatory instruments in place to ensure sustainable fish stocks and conservation of the marine environment makes the area particularly vulnerable. Today’s gap in the coverage of RFMOs across ocean areas together with shortcomings in the international legal framework, calls for a new and updated regime to regulate fishing and the safeguarding of marine living resources in the Arctic. It is necessary to adopt a shared legal regime for conservation and management measures that are binding on the coastal states and states with interest in the area to regulate the overall fishing effort in the future.

The Arctic is home to a multitude of indigenous peoples who have suffered greatly from European colonisation and are now the first to bear the brunt of climate change as well. Therefore, the protection of indigenous communities must be at the centre of protecting the Arctic, especially since the commercial prospects of the warming climate exposes them to the threat of new and intensified colonial pursuits. The European Green Party considers it vital that indigenous peoples of the Arctic are included in any and all processes of creating new regulations and agreements concerning the Arctic region, and their communities must be safeguarded and their rights to practise their traditional cultures and livelihoods protected under any such agreements and legal regimes.

The changing climate and warmer temperatures have made northern sea areas more available and therefore vulnerable to exploration, and we have yet to see northern coastal states take action to ensure responsible management and protection of the region. The European Green Party considers today's regulatory instruments in place for the conservation of marine living resources insufficient.

The changing climate and warmer temperatures have made northern sea areas more available and therefore vulnerable to exploration, and we have yet to see northern coastal states take action to ensure responsible management and protection of the region. The European Green Party considers today's regulatory instruments in place for the conservation of marine living resources insufficient.

The possible exploitation of the known and potential resources of the Arctic and the trade implications of the icefield melting for international trade can also exacerbate tensions between the Arctic States. The militarisation of the Arctic region is a plausible risk for the international security and the environment that must be prevented.

There is a need for involvement of the peoples living in the Arctic. Thus it is important to include the indigenous peoples of the areas in the processes of regulation

The changing climate and warmer temperatures have made northern sea areas more available and therefore vulnerable to exploration, and we have yet to see northern coastal states take action to ensure responsible management and protection of the region. The European Green Party considers today's regulatory instruments in place for the conservation of marine living resources insufficient.