US signs treaty to protect Arctic, giving some hope for Paris agreement

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

US signs treaty to protect Arctic, giving some hope for Paris agreement

Secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, signs a commitment to curb
greenhouse gas emissions and to extend scientific cooperation
in the Arctic region

Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Friday 12 May 2017 15.48 BST

Environmental campaigners were given some hope that the US may stick to its commitments under the Paris climate change treaty when Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, signed a commitment to protect the Arctic and extend scientific co-operation.

He was speaking at the end of a meeting of the eight-nation Arctic Council in Alaska, a consultative body dedicated to sustaining the Arctic.

The members signed a document “noting the entry into force of the Paris agreement on climate change and its implementation, and reiterating the need for global action to reduce both long-lived greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants.”

The representatives also state that they recognise that “activities taking place outside the Arctic region, including activities occurring in Arctic States, are the main contributors to climate change effects and pollution in the Arctic, and underlining the need for action at all levels.”

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/12/us-signs-treaty-to-protect-arctic-giving-some-hope-for-paris-agreement

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. US signs agreement on enhancing international Arctic scientific cooperation

(Please note, NSF Press Release — Copyright concerns are nil.)

https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=241923

[font face=Serif][font size=5]US signs agreement on enhancing international Arctic scientific cooperation[/font]

[font size=4]NSF's Office of Polar Programs led US delegation for group that developed the accord[/font]

May 12, 2017

[font size=3]On May 11, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed an agreement to promote Arctic scientific cooperation by breaking down barriers to scientific research and exploration.

The signing took place at the 10^th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation and the United States are parties to the agreement.

The "Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation" is the product of three years of work by the Arctic Council's Task Force for Enhancing Science Cooperation. The U.S. delegation to the task force, led by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Office of Polar Programs, represented several U.S. science agencies.

This is the third legally binding agreement the parties have negotiated under the auspices of the Arctic Council.

The agreement ensures scientists from the eight Arctic nations have access to the Arctic areas that each state has identified, including "entry and exit of persons, equipment, and materials; access to research infrastructure and facilities; and access to research areas." The agreement also calls for the parties to promote education and training of scientists working on Arctic matters.

The agreement entered into force upon its signature.

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