Johan Tiedemann: Merging tradition and change
My name is Johan Tiedemann and I work as a State secretary in the Swedish government office. My responsibility is Nordic affairs. Thank you for inviting me to come here today!
It feels good to se that so many committed to the development of our northerly part of the Nordic.
I am very pleased to be here to talk about the merging of tradition and change in the Arctic.
The interest in the Arctic has risen dramatically in the last couple of years. The Arctic has a unique nature and wildlife which is very sensitive to changes in the environment. This means that people, nature and wildlife has to adapt to changed conditions. The increased interest is a effect of exploring natural resources and the possibility of new shipping lanes for the maritime traffic. Changes like these will also have an impact on the arctic nature.
The Nordic countries are very much involved in the Arctic, as it is a large part of our region. One of two major tasks for the Nordic cooperation is to improve the quality of life for the indigenous people in the northern areas and to promote social and cultural development for the Arctic people. The other major task is to protect the sensitive and characteristic Arctic nature, and to ensure sustainable use of the region's resources, and protection of its biological diversity.
Increased environmental pressures not least climate change constitute severe problems for all people living in the Arctic. Climate change is much faster in the Arctic than in other parts of our globe. The processes are reinforcing. We very much look forward to the assessments now being done in the different bodies within the Arctic Council. The assessment on biodiversity (ABA) is expected in a couple of years but the first studies show that habitats for flora and fauna are under severe pressure already today because of the changed climate. Traditional industry will be affected by this.
Living conditions in the Arctic are also related to how chemicals are diffused by air and concentrated in biomass. Mercury and halogenated flame retardants should be under special observation and measures taken globally to prevent them from diffusing into the vulnerable Arctic environment.
Melting of ice and thawing of permafrost will create large negative impacts on infrastructure. Shipping, oil and gas exploration and fishing will be easier with less ice but we do not yet know what the environmental limits are for these activities. We need more assessments and we need impact assessments for all new activities. There is also an assessment going on about the regulatory framework. We need to protect the environment and need to know more about what is possible and viable today and if any complementary measures are needed. All this results in a clear recommendation to use a precautionary attitude.
A number of these important matters will be highlighted during the Swedish presidency of the Arctic Council 2011 - 2013. During the Swedish Presidency in 2008, Sweden organised an Arctic Conference in Greenland, together with the European Commission, with the aim of increasing knowledge of conditions for the environment and the people living in the Artic.
The Arctic Council is of great importance in shaping the future of the Arctic. It´s a unique forum where indigenous peoples are represented as permanent participants together with state actors. They are thus granted higher status than observers states and other observers. This provides an important tool for taking into account the traditional knowledge of the indigenous peoples when elaborating modern methods of preserving the Arctic flora and fauna in today’s world.
For many people living in the Arctic natural resources are the main source of livelihood. There is a need to allow for traditional means of support, such as hunting and fishing, while also exploring ways of using modern technology in everyday life, something that I’m sure that the next speaker, Gunn-Britt from the Sami Council will discuss.
Even though the Arctic region is of global importance, the indigenous peoples are the ones directly affected by increased environmental pressures – and also by any measures to counter these challenges, for example policies for preservation of wildlife. It is important to strike a balance between the interests of the indigenous people, their own environmental concerns, and the global challenge posed by climate change in the Arctic.
The traditional way of life in the Arctic will not go unaffected by the challenges that face the whole region, or by our attempts to meet these challenges. It is therefore paramount that we face these challenges in common, and develop a common understanding with the indigenous people. This is also why the Arctic Council remains the unique forum for these matters.
The Nordic countries has shown a great ability to overcome problem obstructing development through ingenuity and the ability to adapt. I believe that we together can overcome the threats against our environment by changing our lifestyles and using environmentally-friendly technology.
Thank you for your attention.
