United Nations Climate Change Conference
COP 11 and COP/MOP1
Montreal, 9 December 2005

Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States of America

France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Statement on Climate Change in the Arctic Region

We, the above mentioned Parties included in Annex I to the Convention are the member states and observer states of the Arctic Council, a regional forum that, in co-operation with the six Permanent Participants (the Aleut International Association, the Arctic Athabaskan Council, the Gwich'in Council International, the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North) representing Arctic indigenous communities, works to promote the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development in the region,

We wish to draw the attention of all Parties of the Convention to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA), an evaluation of Arctic climate change and its impacts for the region and for the world that was the result of a four-year international scientific effort and includes indigenous knowledge,

We note with concern the impacts documented by the ACIA that are already felt throughout the region. We highlight the finding of the ACIA that climate change, together with other stressors such as ultraviolet radiation, presents a range of challenges for human health, culture and well-being of Arctic residents, including indigenous communities, as well as risks to Arctic species and ecosystems,

We have acknowledged within the Arctic Council that the findings of the ACIA, as well as its underlying scientific assessment, will help inform governments as they implement and consider future policies on global climate change. On the occasion of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council, Ministers endorsed the ACIA policy recommendations for mitigation, adaptation, research, monitoring and outreach, and will continue to explore possible areas of cooperation among member states,

We have acknowledged within the Arctic Council the need to consider the findings of the ACIA and other relevant studies in implementing our commitments under the Convention and other agreements, including through adoption of climate change mitigation strategies across relevant sectors,

We further note that the scenarios used by the ACIA indicate that continued adaptation to the effects of climate change due to both natural and human factors is needed. Adaptation to climate change and its impacts in the Arctic must take into account the especially sensitive and vulnerable natural and human systems of the region. Special attention needs to be paid to strengthening the adaptive capacities of Arctic residents,

We also welcome the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation and the International Council for Science. The IPY will enhance knowledge of Polar regions, which have significant linkages to climate, ecosystems and communities around the world, and is a unique opportunity to stimulate cooperation and coordination on Arctic research, and increase awareness and visibility of the Arctic region.

As, on the occasion of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Arctic Council, Ministers recognized that the Arctic climate is a critical component of the global climate system with worldwide implications, we:

Encourage Parties, in view of the findings of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, to consider issues related to the Arctic region in: their work on the mitigation of climate change; their work on the impacts of, vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change; and their efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Convention,

Encourage all Parties to work actively and closely to contribute to the success of the International Polar Year 2007-2008, and

Urge the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to ensure that the issue of climate change in the Arctic region and its impacts are fully reflected in its Fourth Assessment Report.