Report

Introduction

A Canadian delegation of two Members of Parliament, Mr. Larry Miller and Mr. Dennis Bevington, attended the meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (the Standing Committee) held in Helsinki, Finland from 19 to 21 November 2014. Accompanying the delegation was Mr. Thai Nguyen from the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament as advisor to the delegation. 

The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (CPAR) is a parliamentary body comprising delegations appointed by the national parliaments of the Arctic states (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United States of America) and the European Parliament. CPAR also includes Permanent Participants representing Indigenous peoples, as well as observers. CPAR meets every two years. The 10th CPAR was held in Akureryri, Iceland from 5 to 7 September 2012.^[1] The 11^th CPAR took place in Whitehorse, Yukon from 9 to 11 September 2014.^[2]

At the conclusion of each biennial conference, CPAR adopts a statement with recommendations to the Arctic Council (AC) and to the governments of the eight Arctic states and the European Commission. Between conferences, Arctic parliamentary cooperation is facilitated by the Standing Committee, which began its activities in 1994. The Standing Committee monitors how the governments implement the Conference Statement, and takes initiatives to further Arctic cooperation. CPAR and the Standing Committee act as a parliamentary forum for issues relevant to the work of the AC. The Standing Committee takes part in the work of the AC as an observer.^[3]

Meeting summary^[4]

A.   ARCTIC STRATEGY OF FINLAND

On 20 November 2014, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, presented the Arctic Strategy of Finland^[5] and noted that Finland will assume the Chairmanship of the AC in 2017 for a two-year period following the United States’ (U.S.) Chairmanship from 2015 to 2017. He stated that Finland welcomes the addition of observers, including China and Singapore, to the AC. For Finland, the AC is THE forum for international cooperation on Arctic issues and observers can contribute valuable expertise to discussions and scientific studies. The Minister declared that the European Union (EU) is a vital player in Arctic cooperation and is encouraged by the recent Canada-EU agreement related to the EU ban on imported seal products,^[6] which he suggested would facilitate the EU’s admission to the AC as an observer.

Finland’s Arctic Strategy focuses on the country’s expert knowledge of matters related to the Arctic and ways that Finland can contribute to Arctic cooperation and development. The strategy addresses education, research, infrastructure development, environmental security and international cooperation. The Minister pointed out that many topics, such as infrastructure development and capacity building, highlighted by the Conference Statement from the 11^th CPAR in Whitehorse (“Whitehorse Conference Statement”),^[7] are also addressed by Finland’s strategy.

The Minister declared that Finland, as the future AC Chair, recognizes the important role of parliamentarians in Arctic cooperation and will collaborate with parliamentarians and the Standing Committee to advance the AC’s work. He noted the role of the Standing Committee in establishing the AC and mentioned that Finland supports increasing the capacity of indigenous organizations to participate in the work of the AC as recommended by the Whitehorse Conference Statement. The Minister also mentioned that the upcoming 20^th anniversary of the AC is an opportunity to assess means to better position it to respond to future challenges. Finland supports the consideration of new areas for legal treaties among Arctic states. 

The Minister indicated that, in Finland’s view, climate change with resulting summer sea ice loss is the main cause of increased shipping and natural resources exploitation activities in the Arctic. Regarding shipping, the Minister noted the exceptional cooperation among Arctic countries at the International Maritime Organization in developing the Polar Code,^[8] and encouraged all countries to ratify the code. Oil and gas exploitation represents economic opportunities but also risks for the environment and local communities. Therefore, for the Minister, mitigation and adaptation to climate change actions are vital. He suggested that climate change science findings are indisputable and that greenhouse-gas emissions are driving global temperature increases to a tipping point.

The Minister stated that policies must respond to scientific conclusions and pointed out that the EU is devising common greenhouse-gas emissions targets. He also declared that the recently announced U.S.-China agreement^[9] on the subject is an important step forward and that there is a need for a global binding agreement on greenhouse-gas emissions in Paris in 2015.

The Minister commended Canada for its efforts in establishing the Arctic Economic Council (AEC)^[10] and stated that Finland fully supports its creation. In his opinion, the establishment of the AEC during a period of geopolitical tensions in Ukraine demonstrates the willingness from Arctic states to keep the Arctic as a conflict-free area that is shielded from disputes occurring elsewhere in the world.

A Canadian delegate noted a recommendation from the Whitehorse Conference Statement to “hold an Arctic Summit, on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Arctic Council in 2016, involving heads of state and governments of the Arctic Council member states, as well as the heads of the Permanent Participants,” and asked the Minister if Finland would support organizing such a summit. The Minister replied that Finland supports holding an Arctic Summit and noted that Arctic stakeholders should work on preparing initiatives and proposals that could be used as a base for organizing such a summit.

Another Canadian delegate asked the Minister about specific initiatives that could enhance the possibility of organizing an Arctic Summit. The Minister responded that Finland is open to diverse types of proposals and will put great effort into ensuring that such a summit takes place.

A Canadian delegate asked the Minister about his views on the U.S. priorities^[11] for its Chairmanship in 2015-2017, and the way those priorities intersect with Finland’s agenda. In the Minister’s opinion, there have been wide consultations among Arctic states regarding priorities for the next Chairmanship and the U.S priorities certainly fit Finland’s Arctic Strategy.

B.   CULTURAL COOPERATION IN THE BARENTS REGION AND NORTHERN DIMENSION POLICY

In the Whitehorse Conference Statement, CPAR asked the Standing Committee to

explore and strengthen the possibilities for increased cooperation in the field of culture in the different parts of the Arctic region, and thereby build capacity in communities to deal with environmental, economic, cultural and social challenges for the benefit of sustainable development in the Arctic region.

To follow up on this request, the Standing Committee invited Ms. Maija Lummepuro, Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, to make a presentation about cultural cooperation initiatives of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council^[12] and the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture^[13]. According to Ms. Lummepuro, cultural cooperation initiatives are best conducted by regional-level organizations and such cooperation in northern Europe is an integral part of Europe-wide cultural cooperation strategy.

A Canadian delegate mentioned that the Whitehorse Conference Statement stresses the role of cultural cooperation in enhancing communities’ resilience in the context of environmental and socioeconomic changes. He also noted that Canada is the co-lead country at the AC for the Arctic Adaptation Exchange project. That project aims to develop an on-line information portal facilitating access to data, knowledge and decision-support tools needed by governments, industry, Arctic indigenous peoples and other residents to manage climate change risks. The Canadian delegate then asked Ms. Lummepuro whether exchange mechanisms through the University of the Arctic^[14] could also be viewed as a cultural cooperation tool.

Ms. Lummepuro agreed that the University of the Arctic, being a network of universities, is an ideal tool for stimulating people’s mobility and cultural exchanges.

C.   USE OF BIOENERGY IN FINLAND

The use and cost of energy is a long-standing agenda item for the Standing Committee. The Arctic region is rich in energy resources but the cost of energy is a serious impediment for the sustainable development of many off-grid communities. The Whitehorse Conference Statement contains recommendations supporting the development of renewable energy sources suitable for the Arctic.

Mr. Timo Ritonummi, from Finland’s Ministry of Employment and Economy, informed the Standing Committee of his country’s policy on and use of bioenergy.^[15] He noted that 35% of Finland’s energy already comes from renewable resources and the country’s target for 2020 is 38%. Half of Finland’s renewable energy resources are derived from the exploitation of wood products.

A Canadian delegate asked Mr. Ritonummi about ownerships of Finland’s forests. Mr. Ritonummi replied that approximately 60% of the country’s forests are on private lands and 25% are on public lands. Finland also imports wood chips from Russia to be used for bioenergy generation.

D.   ARCTIC ECONOMIC COUNCIL

The establishment of the AEC has been an important priority of the Canadian Chairmanship of the AC. The AEC’s inaugural meeting occurred in September 2014 in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The AEC’s Executive Committee is chaired by Mr. Tom Paddon (President and CEO of Baffinland Iron Mines) from Canada.

Mr. Rene Soderman, from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed the Standing Committee that the AEC is an independent structure from the AC and is run by businesses for businesses. The AEC will cooperate with the AC and will serve as a forum for exchanges of best practices and technological solutions.

E.   EUROPEAN UNION ARCTIC INFORMATION CENTRE

The EU Arctic Information Centre^[16] is a network of Arctic research institutions from various EU and European Economic Area countries. Finland worked for some years to have its coordinating headquarter established in Rovaniemi, northern Finland. It should be noted also that the Whitehorse Conference Statement supports the creation of the Centre as one of the tools for Arctic research, education and information collaboration.

Ms. Paula Kankaanpaa, Director of the Centre in Rovaniemi, informed the Standing Committee about the status of the Centre and its work. The Centre is currently assessing the impact of EU policies in the Arctic as well as impacts of changes in the European Arctic for the rest of Europe related to shipping, fisheries, oil and gas exploitation, mining, land-use pressures and socio-cultural issues.

F.    EVALUATION OF THE 11TH CONFERENCE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE ARCTIC REGION IN WHITEHORSE, YUKON, 9-11 SEPTEMBER 2014

The Whitehorse Conference Report, produced by the Parliament of Canada, was presented to delegates during the Standing Committee meeting. Delegates thanked the Canadian Parliament for hosting the Conference in an efficient fashion. The Secretary General also provided his assessment of the Whitehorse Conference in a report. His report commended Canada for organizing an agenda that “provided for many opportunities for informal conversations and networking.” He noted a good gender balance among presenters.

A Canadian delegate indicated that it was an honour for Canada to host the 11^th Conference. He thanked delegates for their support for Canada’s position regarding the EU ban on imported seal products, which was reflected in the Whitehorse Conference Statement.

G.   STATUS OF THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

A Canadian delegate reported to the Standing Committee on the status of the establishment of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The CHARS, a key component of Canada’s Northern Strategy that is scheduled to be opened in July 2017, was also mentioned in the Whitehorse Conference Statement as a vital tool for Arctic research.

Mr. Dennis Bevington, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee, informed the Standing Committee about the presentation he made on its behalf on the Whitehorse Conference Statement at the AC’s Senior Arctic Officials meeting in Yellowknife in October 2014. He indicated that parliamentarians should keep track of the wide range of activities in which the AC is engaged. Mr. Bevington stated that CPAR can be more visionary than the AC since it is not tied to governments’ priorities. CPAR acts as an ideal conduit to convey Arctic parliamentarians’ interests and concerns to the AC.

Mr. Eirik Sivertsen, Chair of the Standing Committee, agreed with Mr. Bevington regarding the potential of CPAR and declared that it is now up to parliamentarians to follow up on the recommendations of the Whitehorse Conference Statement with their respective governments and parliaments. He informed the Standing Committee that the European Parliament’s Arctic group is being formed following the May 2014 European elections.

H.   SEMINAR ON ARCTIC SECURITY

Topics discussed at the seminar, held in the afternoon of 20 November 2014, were Coast Guard cooperation, military capacity building and new surveillance technologies. Mr. Marcus Rantala, State Secretary at Finland’s Ministry of Defence, stated that economic changes and environmental challenges are part of security concerns. He declared that security challenges must be tackled together, as no single country can successfully deal with them alone. Mr. Rantala indicated that better situational awareness is of crucial importance to preparedness and inter-agency cooperation.

According to Mr. Andreas Osthagen from the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, military security is not yet a pressing issue in the Arctic. He pointed out that environmental issues (pollution, law enforcement and fisheries monitoring) and human security are currently of greater concern.

Mr. Age Refsdal Moe from the Norwegian Board of Technology gave a presentation about the potential of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the Arctic. He informed the Standing Committee that UAS are a low-budget option for search and recues operations, oil spills preparedness, real-time visual navigation support and drift ice monitoring. The current obstacles for their use in the Arctic are regulations about airspace use and the low availability of required bandwidths to transmit data. A Canadian delegate mentioned that, in the future, UAS might also be considered as a more economical option for shipping goods to remote Arctic communities compared to current cargo planes.

Ms. Henna Haapala, Finland’s Ministry of the Environment, shared her thoughts regarding building resilient communities in the Arctic. She mentioned an article in The Economist arguing that the costs of a melting Arctic could be higher than benefits resulting from the exploitation of newly accessible natural resources. According to Ms. Haapala, delaying climate mitigation actions will reduce options for climate-resilience pathways.

A Canadian delegate pointed out that climate change effects could be more severe in the South (for example, the recent snow storm in Buffalo and superstorm Sandy). He suggested that Arctic communities may be better equipped to handle environmental changes given their much smaller sizes. He also indicated that many Arctic communities are rich in renewable energy resources, which are an important advantage when assessing resiliency. He then asked Ms. Haapala about ways to harness Arctic communities’ strengths to increase their resiliency. Ms. Haapala noted that traditional knowledge is a vital resource for adaptation to change.

I.      VISIT TO ARCTIA SHIPPING LTD.

On 21 November 2014, delegates visited Arctia Shipping Ltd.’s headquarters and its icebreaker Urho. Arctia Shipping Ltd. is a Finnish state-owned company responsible for operating an icebreaker fleet. The company provides icebreaking services for the Finnish Transport Agency as well as for private companies in the offshore oil and gas fields in Arctic waters.^[17] It should be noted that the company’s CEO and President, Tero Vauraste, is Vice-Chair of the AEC.^[18]

Mr. Markku Tuhkanen, Communications Director, informed delegates that 60% of the world’s icebreakers were built in Finland.^[19] He also indicated that one of Arctia’s icebreaker is the world’s only oil-recovery icebreaker. Mr. Tuhkanen stated that traffic on the Northern Sea Route next year is expected to be reduced by half because of economic sanctions against Russia. 

A Canadian delegate enquired about icebreaker building in China. Mr. Tuhkanen responded that China has been very active lately and is building a new icebreaker. He mentioned that Finland recently received a visit from a 100-person Chinese delegation, including the Chinese Vice-Prime Minister. The Chinese delegation discussed maritime technology cooperation opportunities with Finlands, including the sharing of icebreaking technologies.

Another Canadian delegate asked Mr. Tuhkanen about the engine power of Finland’s new dual-fuel icebreaker. That icebreaker will use both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel, and is scheduled to be completed in 2016.^[20] According to Mr. Tuhkanen, the dual-fuel icebreaker will significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and fuel costs while having the same engine power as a pure diesel-powered icebreaker. However, the capacity to make a full stop in a few seconds using LNG is still a challenge. The dual-fuel icebreaker would have to switch to diesel in that situation.

J.    FUTURE MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE 

The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for 10-11 March 2015 in Washington, D.C. Future meetings in 2015 are planned for May or June in Reykjavik, Iceland, and for early fall in Brussels, Belgium.

 

Respectfully submitted,