Increased strategic importance offsets slower environmental progress of Arctic Council

HELSINKI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The increased strategic importance of the arctic area is likely to be reflected in the meeting of foreign ministers of the arctic Council in Rovaniemi, northern Finland in May.

During the two-year chairmanship of Finland in the arctic Council, differing views of the United States have hampered progress in some environmental sectors, analysts have believed.

This weekend, however, Reuters quoted an unnamed U.S. official saying "the U.S. wants to show that it is committed to being an arctic power". The official said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would be likely to attend the May meeting in Rovaniemi "unless pulled to one of his many other issues".

Finnish sources quoted by local media noted on Sunday the attendance of Pompeo would "enhance the prestige of the Rovaniemi meeting" and that the "list is promising". All foreign ministers of the member countries receive invitations.

In the previous Arcitc Council meeting of foreign ministers in Fairbanks, Alaska in May 2017, member countries had to negotiate their declaration as the U.S. did not accept the initial draft. In the end, toning down a reference to the Paris climate accords made the text acceptable to the U.S..

Aleksi Harkonen, the Finnish arctic Ambassador, told news agency Lannen Media last week that it is possible the situation in Fairbanks could be seen also in Rovaniemi. "But let us hope that the member countries see the Artic issues so important that they will not be obscured by day to day political stands," Harkonen said.

BLACK CARBON

During the Finnish tenure as chairman of the arctic Council, the Council made progress in biodiversity efforts and meteorological cooperation, but appears to have made little progress in restricting black carbon. Carried through the air, black carbon absorbs sunlight and speeds up the melting of ice and snow.

In the meeting of environmental ministers last October, the United States was no longer committed to the arctic Council's target on reducing the spread of black carbon.

On the achievement side, the meteorological institutes of all the eight countries convened for the first time. They decided to make the data of observer stations generally available.

A researchers' meeting on arctic biodiversity was the second in the history of the Council. Exchange of information about the state of the biological environment makes it easier to determine the measures that could work as a remedy.

The Council has made progress also in education. Modern remote teaching methods are to be used in arranging tuition for minorities living in the sparsely populated arctic areas.

During the U.S. chairmanship in 2015-2017, the Council adopted aims to improve communications. However, concrete progress awaits ongoing improvements in satellite technology, particularly the wider use of "mini satellites".

At the upcoming meeting in May, besides the traditional declaration of foreign ministers, Finland will also present a strategic plan. It is to include concrete objects for development in environmental protection and sustainable development, Finnish officials have said. Those sectors are within the mandate of the Council.

Also at the meeting, the chairmanship of the arctic Council will pass from Finland to Iceland.

CHINESE POLICY

In early 2018 China published a white paper on its arctic policy. China has also envisions a "Polar Silk Road". Commenting on the plans in 2018, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the paper on arctic policy is in line with the international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas.

In an interview with Xinhua, he also said it is important that arctic players have something in common so that peace is maintained in the region.

In 2013 China became an observer country in the arctic Council. The Council itself dates back to 1996 and comprises the U.S., Canada, Russia and the five Nordic nations as members.