Striking the balance in the Arctic

{mosads}Not least the greater accessibility of the Arctic has meant a significant increase of international interest in the region. The Arctic has moved drastically up the agenda not only in the Arctic states, but also among other actors be it states such as China, South Korea and France who see the opportunities of a more accessible Arctic or well known international NGOs, like Greenpeace.

In the midst of all this, the Arctic inhabitants find themselves under cross pressure. On one hand they are interested in securing new means to finance welfare benefits and basic services. An obvious way to finance this is to realize the raw material potential that the melting ice makes easier accessible. On the other hand the inhabitants of the Arctic are very interested in preserving the environmental basis for their cultural identity. This calls for high standards of environmental protection – not least in the fragile Arctic environment, where for instance a ship-wreck can cause vast damage. The Exxon Valdez disaster was a tragic illustration of this.

The Kingdom of Denmark – Denmark, Greenland and the Faeroes – is like other Arctic states forced to find ways to handle these opposing demands in a way that leaves room for Arctic societies to develop according to their own preferences. The Arctic Strategy of the Kingdom of Denmark shows one way of striking the balance.

It is an overriding political priority for the Kingdom of Denmark to use the opportunities in the Arctic to create sustained economic growth and development in the Arctic societies. The resources of the Arctic are estimated to be of a significant size: 10 percent of the world’s unproven oil reserves, 30 percent of the gas resources and huge reserves of many kinds of minerals, including critical metals and rare earth elements. They must be exploited – but to the benefit of the inhabitants of the Arctic. And, equally important, they must be exploited with respect of the highest international standards for safety, health, the environment, preparedness and transparency.

Therefore, the oil, gas and mining industries must be developed with due regard to the vulnerable Arctic environment – the development must be environmentally sustainable – and they must contribute significantly to economic development to the benefit of the whole society. This type of safeguarding is a prominent part of the Arctic Strategy of the Kingdom of Denmark. A concrete example of this is a requirement that a company in order to obtain a license for drilling in Greenlandic waters must finance activities that benefit local societies.

Nature and the environment must be managed on the basis of the best possible science and the highest standards of protection. Long term monitoring and assessment of all threats against and strains on the Arctic nature and environment – not least the marine environment – is the only way to arrest development in the wrong direction. It is important to strengthen the international and multilateral cooperation in this field and the Kingdom intends to keep on doing so in different relevant fora such as the UN and the Arctic Council.

The Arctic is a relatively confined and interdependent region where events in one country soon affect other countries. Environmental, disasters, for instance, know no boundaries. This is why The Kingdom of Denmark remains committed to close and peaceful cooperation between the Arctic states and enhancing science and research based decisions. Denmark regards the Arctic Council as the preeminent body for regional cooperation – a position we share with the United States which is also a member of the council.

National strategies reinforced by international cooperation and international law form a sound basis for constructive cooperation on for instance environmental protection and the development of Arctic societies and this is how we intend to achieve our goals. I look forward, during my visit this, to a fruitful dialogue with the United States on Arctic issues.

Søvndal is Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark