Summary table: MEAs and relevant international fora and their relevance to Arctic biodiversity16

Arctic-relevant MEAs and international fora

Legal:

MEAs, including species agreements, and mechanisms for development of enhanced cooperation

High and direct relevance

• Agreement on the Conservation of African- Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)

• Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears • Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR)

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) • Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) • International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW)

• United Conventions Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

International Organizations and Policy Forums

• Arctic Council • Barents-Euro Council (BEAC) • European Union – Northern Dimension Policy

• World Trade Organization • United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) • International Maritime Organization (IMO)

states bordering enclosed and semi-enclosed seas and Article 234 relating to Ice-covered areas, are particularly relevant.

It is well-documented that many of the stressors, which are having fundamental impacts on Arctic ecosystems, such as long-range transported air ollution and climate change, have very little to do with human activities in the Arctic region itself. Consequently, the conception of what is “Arctic- relevant” must be expanded, particularly where MEAs are concerned. Integration of efforts, including economic and trade measures (e.g., through the World Trade Organization),

• Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) • Conference of Arctic Parliamentarians (CPAR)

• European Economic Area (EEA) • Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) • Northern Forum

II Medium Relevance

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

• Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)

• World Heritage Convention (WHC) I

is required to address loss of Arctic ecosystem services and biodiversity. Sectoral or regional approaches alone are unlikely to have a major impact on the driving forces behind the potentially fundamental changes that are anticipated for Arctic ecosystems in the future. MEAs applicable to activities outside the Arctic region are, therefore, highly relevant to preserving Arctic biodiversity. Summaries of MEAs considered to be highly relevant to the Arctic can be found online within the Arendal Seminar Overview report on Multilateral Environmental Agreements and Their Relevance to the Arctic10

. LIMITATIONS AND STRENGTHS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS 27