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Arctic Council

 

The Ottawa Declaration of 1996 formally established the Arctic Council as a high level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

 

Arctic Council Homepage

 

The scientific work of the Arctic Council is carried out in six expert working groups focusing on such issues as monitoring, assessing and preventing pollution in the Arctic, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, emergency preparedness and prevention in addition to the living conditions of the Arctic residents.

 

ACAP          AMAP          CAFF          EPPR          PAME          SDWG         

About PAME

The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group (PAME) is one of six Arctic Council working groups. PAME was first established under the 1991 Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and was continued by the 1996 Ottawa Charter that established the Arctic Council.

PAME is the focal point of the Arctic Council's activities related to the protection and sustainable use of the Arctic marine environment.  It has a specific mandate to keep under review the adequacy of global and regional legal, policy and other measures, and where necessary to make recommendations for improvements that would  support the Arctic Council's Arctic Marine Strategic Plan (2004).

PAME carries out activities as set out in bi-annual work plans approved by the Arctic Council on the recommendation of the Senior Arctic Officials. These activities led by PAME include circumpolar and regional action programmes and guidelines complementing existing legal arrangements aimed at protection of the Arctic marine environment from both land and sea-based activities. The Permanent Participants (Indigenous Organizations) of the Arctic Council participate actively in the work of PAME.  PAME works in close collaboration with the other five Arctic Council Working Groups.

 

See presentation  on selected PAME projects


The PAME Working Group consists of National Representatives responsible for its work in their respective countries. Permanent Participants, representing Arctic indigenous groups, also participate in PAME, as well as representatives of several observer countries and interested organisations. PAME provides a unique forum for collaboration on wide range of Arctic marine environmental issues.

 

The PAME WG generally meets twice a year to assess progress of work, discuss program priorities and develop its biennial work plans. The PAME WG is headed by a chair and vice-chair,which rotate among the Arctic countries and is supported by an International Secretariat. PAME reports to the Senior Arctic Officilas, and through them, to the Ministers of the Arctic Council that meets every two years.


The PAME Chair for 2011 -2013:

Mr. Hugi Olafsson
Ministry of the Environment, Iceland
Tel: + +354 545 8600
Fax: +354 562 4566
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


The PAME WG operates by the Arctic Council Rules of Procedures, as further specified in PAME Operating Guidelines


Arctic Council Rules of Procedures


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