Miljöutbildning inför expedition till Arktis 2005

1. Miljöskydd i Arktis
Johan Sidenmark
Polarforskningssekretariatet

2. Syftet är att ge en introduktion till
Miljötillståndet i Arktis
Miljöskydd i Arktis
Expeditionens
miljökonsekvenser
Polars förebyggande
miljöarbete
Kemikaliehantering
Avfallshantering
Generella riktlinjer
Lake Troitskoe in the Volcano Maly Semyachek

3. Varför bry sig om miljön?
Arktis - A Magnificient Legacy
Efterleva lagar
Hälsa och säkerhet
Framtida forskning
Försiktighetsprincipen
Expeditionsrutiner
En svensk expedition
Vårt ansvar
Ha trevligt

4. Arktis – några utmärkande drag
Mycket och relativt
Arktis resurser tilldrar
ostörd natur sig stort intresse från
Relativt få invånare – många delar av världen
urspurngsbefolkning
Olja, gas och mineraler
delar regionen med
blir mer och mer
nybyggare
intressant
Alla landområden
regleras genom de
Globala föroreningar och
arktiska ländernas klimatförändring har
nationella lagar redan påverkat Arktis

5. Is enough being done???
Yes... no... maybe......
Yes, because wildlife is abundant and there are
very many protected areas throughout the Arctic,
No, because traditional conservation approaches
do not tackle today’s environmental problems,
such as POPs and other pollutants, climate
change etc.
Maybe, because there is still room for much
improvement

6. Biodiversity in the Arctic
High Arctic and desert Silvertärna (Sterna Paradisaea)
ecosystems have much in
common. Species are true
fighters for survival. Many
species demonstrate Adventdalen, Svalbard
relatively high resilience
against disturbances.
Fjällglim (Silene acaulis)

7. The Arctic is characterized by a harsh
climate with extreme variation in light
and temperature, short summers,
extensive snow and ice cover in
Silvertärna (Sterna Paradisaea)
winter and large areas of permafrost.
The plants and animals of the Arctic
have adapted to these conditions, but
these adaptations have in some cases
rendered them more sensitive to
human activities. Human activities Adventdalen, Svalbard
both inside and outside the Arctic
influence the physical, chemical and
biological nature of Arctic
ecosystems.
AMAP – Arctic Pollution 2002 Fjällglim (Silene acaulis)

8. Växternas ekologiska anpassningar
Fjällvallmons blomma bildar
en kapsel som koncentrerar
solens strålar till blommans
mitt, där fröna bildas.
Blommorna följer solens
gång över himlen för att
ytterligare skynda på
fröbildningen.
Fjällvallmo (Papaver radicatum)

9. Ekologiska opportunister på Svalbard
Avsaknaden av smågnagare på
Svalbard har gjort att fjällräven
förlitar sig på andra födokällor,
som t.ex. sjöfågel eller döda
renar. Fjällrävar har även setts
“adoptera” isbjörnar, och följer
då med ut på havsisen där
räven livnär sig på resterna från Fjällräv (Alopex Lagopus)
isbjörnens säljakt.
Eftersom det nästan inte finns några smågnagare på Svalbard kan
inte rovfåglar överleva. Den stora vittruten har därför tagit över
rollen som rovfågel och är luftens store härskare på Svalbard.

10. En av världens sista stora vildmarker
Jämfört med de flesta andra områden på
jorden, så finns det mesta av naturen i
Arktis kvar i sitt naturliga tillstånd
En del miljöproblem föranleder oro, på
grund av en kombination av olika
förhållanden, för befolkningen i Arktis och
för vissa ekosystem
Dessa förhållanden förekommer ibland på
en lokal nivå, men kan även vara både
regionala eller cirkumpolär i omfattning

11. Klimatförändring
"Climate change in the Polar
Regions is expected to be among
the largest and most rapid of any
region on the Earth, and will cause
major physical, ecological, 1990
sociological, and economic impacts,
especially in the Arctic".
Detta är den sammanfattande
slutsatsen i den senaste rapporten
från IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change).
2003

12. Vikande permafrost ökar
växthuseffekten
Widespread loss of discontinuous
permafrost will trigger erosion of
ice-rich landscapes, change
hydrologic processes, and
release CO2 and methane to the
atmosphere. Changes in the
cryosphere will reduce slope
stability and increase incidence of
natural hazards for people,
structures, and communication
links. Buildings, roads, pipelines,
and communication links will be
threatened.

13. The Gulf Currents possible future
Two major engines drive the Gulf Current. Winds bring
warm surface water from Africa to the Gulf of Mexico
and then across the Atlantic Ocean towards Europé.
Cold and salt surface water in the North Atlantic sinks to
the bottom, and is replaced by the Gulf Stream’s warm
surface water. The result is a favourable climate in
Europé.
Diminishing deep water formation could slow down the
Gulf current’s flow, which may lead to a colder climate
in Northern Europé and northwest Russia.

14. What will happen if the Gulf Current
cease to flow?
With average temperatures 2-5 degrees C lower
than today, Northern Europe may experience a
climate and natural conditions similar to Churchill
in Canada, i.e. tundra and barren land.
Not to mention possible dramatic changes in all
life on land and in the seas. And changes may
come fast…

15. Ecological consequences
of climate change
Climate change may diminish
distribution and abundance of
high Arctic species. Alien
species may invade (e.g.
pests)
Timberline may be pushed
further north.
Overfishing may have
consequenses for seabirds
and land living animals
New transport routes will lead
to increased risk of accidents

16. The Northern Sea Route
Massive oil spills along northern Russian waters can be
trapped in the ice and destroy marine ecosystems over wide
areas. Ultimately, oil can be carried with ocean currents to
areas far away. There are few, if any, techniques that allow
for proper handling of such scenarios.
The social, economic and environmental impacts of futre
NSR operations and associated gas, oil and mineral
exploration, plus subsequent shipwrecks and spills, represent
significant concerns and challenges for the future.

17. Northern exposure
POP
Tungmetaller

18. Percentage of blood samples taken from indigenous and non-
indigenous women of reproductive age that had mercury levels
exceeding US EPA and Health Canada guidelines

19. Trenden går att vända
Bly
Implementation of the
1979 Geneva Convention
on Long Range
Transboundary Air
Pollution (Box 2) and the
Stockholm Convention on
Persistent Organic
Pollutants is important
for reducing the burden
of contamination on the
Arctic and its inhabitants

20. Polar bears in a changing
environment
Polar bears were
effectively protected
against hunting all over
the Arctic in 1973.
But what now, with
retreating sea ice,
pollution etc ...?

21. POPs in Svalbard’s polar bears may
affect reproduction and survival
Polar bear blood plasma samples collected in Svalbard
in 1967 were analyzed for POPs and compared with
values from 1993-94.
Differences ranged from a decrease for a limited
number of compounds to a ten times increase in others.
The increase suggests selective metabolism and
accumulation of organochlorines in polar bears.

22. Biomagnification
Biomagnification occurs when contaminant
levels are increased with each step in the food
web.
Predators consume the contaminants stored in
their food (prey), and in turn include the
contaminats in the food of these prey, etc.

24. Svalbard’s polar bears are also
effected by climate change
Retreating sea ice prevetns pregnant females to reach the
shores of their traditional denning areas in late autumn.
Less ice also means fewer seals to hunt, and increased
difficulties for female bears to cater for her offspring
Juvenile bears lack the hunting experience of older bears
and may starve when seals become less abundant
Fewer dens means fewer births. Less foos means
increased motalities.
The net result: Less recruitment to the population

25. Exploatering
största hotet
mot miljön
i Arktis

26. The Arctic is a major supplier of oil,
gas and other minerals
The Arctic contains huge deposits of oil, gas and
minerals, and may become one of the world’s
major gas and oil suppliers in the future.
Vast pipeline projects are under preparation for
export to China, Japan, Korea and other Pacific
countires.
Nortwas is prospecting in the Berents sea

27. GLOBIO
Global Methodology for Mapping Human Impacts on the Biosphere
The 50, 100 and 200% scenarios are presented as 2030,
2060 and 2090 respectively in the animation.

28. Människan i Arktis
Fynd visar på att Arktis har
varit befolkat i 30 000 år!
Nord Amerika befolkades
från Sibirien för 15 000 år
sedan!

29. Lokalbefolkningens
känsla för snö
Lokalbefolkningen och
miljötillståndet
www.SnowChange.org
vitalgraphics.grida.no/
arctic/

30. Challenges
Will we be able to maintain Arctic ecosystems
and wildlife under threats from pollution and
climate change?
Do we have institutions and legislation that allow
us to manage the Arctic’s nature and wildlife
sustainably?

31. Arktisk miljöpolitik
Komplicerat
Många länder
Politik
Lagstiftning
Folk och fä
Urgamla traditioner
Obegränsat med
gränsdragningar

32. Lagar och multilaterala
överenskommelser till skydd för miljön
All Arctic land is under the
The International Convention for
jurisdiction of a sovereign state the Prevention of Pollution from
Stockholm Convention on POP Ships (MARPOL)
Convention on Biological Diversity
International Maritmime
(CBD) Organisation (IMO)Guidelines for
Convention on the Conservation of Prevention of Unwanted Aquatic
Oranisms and Pathogens from
Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediment
(CMS)
Discharge
Agreement on the conservation of
World Heritage Convention (WHC)
African-Euroasian Migratory
Waterbirds (AEWA)
United Nations Framework
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Convention on Climat Change
((UNFCC)
Convention on International Trade
International Convention on Oil
in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) Pollution Preparedness, Response
and Co-operation (OPRC)

33. Mycket uppmärksamhet
på miljön i Arktis
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)
Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region
Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North
WWF Arctic Programme
University of the Arctic
Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (EPPR)
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
UNEP Net Arctic Portal & GRID-Arendal
EEA - Arctic environment: European perspectives

34. Arctic Environment Protection Strategy
Bildades 1991, under
Arktiska Rådet
”Sustainable development”
Kanada, Danmark, Finland,
Island, Norge, Ryssland,
Sverige och USA

35. Arctic Monitoring and
Assessment Programme
Över 200 projekt
State of the Arctic Environment
Report

36. Protect the environment
”A key phrase in all
activities in the polar region
is protect the environment”
SPRS Field Course Handbook

37. Miljökonsekvensbeskrivning

38. Miljöaspekter från expeditionen
Activity Environmental Aspects Outputs
Fuel management
Emissions to air
Chemical Management
Emissions to land
Waste and Sewage
Emissions to sea
Environmental awareness water and sediments
Terrain alteration
Emissions to inland
Introductions of alien waters and sediments
invasive species
Physical Disturbance
Power and heat production of Land
Sampling
Depletion of natural
resources
Degradation of
biodiversity
Noise generation
Collection of biota

39. Associated Impacts
Disturbance/destruction of fauna (on species level, population
level and ecosystem level)
Disturbance/destruction of flora (on species level, population
level and ecosystem level)
Disturbance/ destruction of habitats
Disturbance of marine/freshwater environments
Degradation of wilderness/aesthetic values and degradation of
heritage/cultural values
Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols in
the atmosphere
Human induced change of processes in the Ecosystems (e.g.
acidification)

40. Avfallshantering

41. Avfallshantering
Minimize waste
Packaging, handling and
production labelling
Remove all waste
Separation and recycling
from Antarctica
Metal
Prohibited items
Glass
- PCB, pesticides
mixed solid
- polystyrene chips/beds
sewage, food
- non-sterile soil
liquid kitchen

42. Kemikaliehantering

43. Fuel management
Proper handling during transport, storage and
transfer
Use absorbent materials during refuelling
operations as far as possible
Stop the flow, contain the spill and initiate clean-
up action if you observe fuel spills or leaks
Report spills larger than 200 litres to expedition
leader immediately

44. Oil spill
Initial assessment
Resources at risk
- Type 1 < 200 litres - Ice-free ground
- Type 2 > 200 litres - Ice-covered ground
- Type, Location, Risk - Snow-covered ground
Health and safety
Spill response
- Ensure safe working - Be familiar with OSCP
conditions - Spill equipment

45. General procedure for oil spill
Try to stop or minimise any further spillage.
Deploy absorbents to contain the oil.
If possible, use pumps to remove the fuel from
the ground straight into 200 litre drums.
Absorbent pads should be spread on any
remaining oil that cannot be manually removed.
Oil soaked absorbents must be picked up and
placed in plastic bags or empty 200 litre drums.

46. Environmental incidents
Report all incidents to Expedition Leader
according to procedures for Emergency
response and preparedness
Events or incidents leading to environmental
hazard are reported to COMNAP and the
”Environmental Incident Reporting System”
Fuel spills are the most common incidents –
spill prevention cautions are the most important

47. Generella riktlinjer och principer

48. Code of Conduct
Vegetation is scarce and sensitive
- Avoid trampling and harmful interference
- Aware of risk of introducing non-native species
Birds and mammals are more stressed than they
appear
- Keep your distance, be calm and quiet
- Do not harmfully interfere
- Be aware of risk of introducing diseases

49. Code of Conduct
Waste and Pollutants
- Zero emissions the goal
Protected areas
- Do not enter without a permit
Site management
- A site should always be left in its natural
condition
- No “souveniring”

50. Before you go………..
Get the facts!
When packaging, remember to
Only bring what you will need
Get rid of unnecessary packaging material
Use packaging material that can be re-used
Do not bring PCB, pesticides, non-sterile soil
Avoid products made by PVC

51. När du packar, tänk på att
Ta med så lite packning
som möjligt
Minimera förpackningar
Använd inte skumplast
av någon form
Undvik plastpåsar

52. TACK FÖR UPPMÄRKSAMHETEN
FRÅGOR?

53. Old and new approaches to
indigenous people’s rights
and roles in conservation
and sustainable use
Before it was: Now it is:
* Preserve * Protect
* Prohibit * Participate
* Punish * Profit

54. Infant mortality in selected regions of
the Arctic

55. Challenges ahead - oil in the sea-ice
Oil is trapped in open leads and under ice where
production is high and where fish, seals and
birds feed.
It takes long time to break down – and is very
difficult to clean up in ice covered waters.
Oil can be transported with the drifting ice over
very long distances, to seas and shores very far
away.

56. Differences between the Arctic and
Antarctica
International cooperation in the Arctic is often
hampered by the bordering states domestic and
political agendas. Adoption of an Antarctic style
treaty is unlikely for the Arctic.
Neverthells, there is room for improvments

57. The Arctic – a remote hinterland?
Challenges, problems and concerns are correlated with
distance in space and time. Europe’s main concernms
and and immediate interests lie beyond the Arctic
region.
We tend to concentrate upon today’s challenges, and
leave concerns about the far-away Arctic to future
generations.

58. Communication with politicians and
decision-makers
Politicians and decision-makers rarely have time
and capacity to read extensive reports and to
absorb their messages.
TV, magazines and newspaper articles are the
media. Plus brainstorming and briefings
whenever possible.

59. The Arcitc has very many, large
protected areas, but……..
Several of them do not recognise animal’s
homerange and seasonal distributions
Some of them allow mineral extraction and
associated infrastructure development
Most of them do not allow for harvests of plants
and animlas e.g. for subsistence by traditional
users (indigenous people)

60. Protection of Svalbards barnacle
geeese – a success story
In the 1940’s Svalbards population of barnacle geese had
beeen reduced to only 300 birds, mainly becausse of hunting
in Svalbard and along its migratory routes.
The geese are now protected in winter ranges in the UK.
Hunting is prohibited in Svalbard and sanctuaries are
established along Spitsbergen’s west coast.
Through effective protection throughout the year, the Svalbard
population is now estimated at 23 000 geese.

61. Pollution in the Arctic
Pollution carried from Europé to the Arctic by air
and ocean and river currents, has had a major
impact on the Arctic environment.
Industry in and around the Arctic aslo contributes
significantly to contamination, with sources
including copper-nickel smeltees on the Kola
Peninsula and at Norilsk in Siberia.