mr. nikolaj bock european environment agency · 2014. 4. 22. · mr. nikolaj bock. european...
TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Nikolaj BockEuropean Environment Agency
Overview of presentation• The European Environment Agency and the Arctic
• What are the main trends & issues?– Climate change– Arctic pollution– Biodiversity
• Arctic challenges– Hydrocarbons & minerals– Shipping (incl. Tourism)– Changing living conditions
- Established by European Council Regulation (1210/90) - Operational in Copenhagen, Denmark since 1994 - Annual budget 2009 of approx. 40 MEuro - Approx. 180 staff members
- EEA has 32 member countries and 6 cooperating countries in the West Balkans.
- EEA is an EU institution - Not part of the European Commission.
- EEA is dedicated to providing sound, independent information on the environment for decision makers (EC/EP/MS) and the public.
- EEA is coordinating the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) - A network of 900 experts from 38 countries across Europe in more than 300 national organisations.
EEA Arctic relevance: Of the 32 EEA member countries: - 5 are member countries in the Arctic Council - 6 are permanent observes in the Arctic Council - European Commission (+EEA) has ad hoc observer status in AC
32 Member countries
6 Cooperating countries in Western Balkans
EEA - Arctic publications
1997 2004
2010: State and Outlook of the Environment Report
The Arctic - Antarctica Water surrounded by land - Land surrounded by water
Source: UNEP GRID-Arendal
Arctic human population: 4 Million Arctic penguins: 0
Source: UNEP GRID-Arendal
Antarctic human population: 0Antarctic penguins: 20 million pairs
Source: British Antarctic Survey
Changes in deep water formation (thermohaline circulation) influenced by sea ice and fresh water
Increased uptake of heat
Actual observations of September Arctic sea ice, in red, show a more severe decline than any of the eighteen computer models, averaged in a dashed line, that the 2007 IPCC reports reference.
Arctic Sea Ice extent
Source: NOAA
Reduction 1978 - 2008:
• 2,9% per decade (year)
• 9,1% per decade (summer)
2007: Dramatic new minimum
2020: No summer ice?
Source: UNEP GRID-Arendal
Source: Steffen, K.; Nghiem, S. V.; Huff, R. and Neumann, G., 2004.
Area of Greenland ice sheet melting 1979–2007
The area of the Greenland ice sheet where there is at least one day of surface melting in summer increased to a new record extent in 2007.
Transportation of pollutants into the Arctic
Source: AMAP 1997
Air – the fast route Rivers, oceans & sea ice
PCB and DDT in Ringed seal
Source: AMAP
PCB contamination in Arctic people
Highest levels are found in maternal blood from communities that depend on traditional diets that include marine mammals.
Source: AMAP, 2002
Vegetation zones in the Arctic Bird migration
Fish migration
Hydrocarbons +
Minerals
European Environment Agency
Shipping is likely to increase
Arctic Tourism increasing
Cruise ship arrivals in Greenland ports and harbors, 2003 – 2008
YearArrivals Number
of cruiseships
Averagenumber ofarrivals/ship
Average passenger capacity/ship
2003 164 14 13 490
2004 195 24 8 468
2005 115 25 5 714
2006 157 28 6 546
2007 222 35 6 671
2008 375* 39* 10* 641*
*= Estimates for 2008 Source: AMSA/Greenland Tourism
Source: AMSA
Challenges facing the Arctic
• Climate Change• Long range pollution (air/ocean currents)• Exploitation or damage to natural resources• Overharvesting of certain key fish stocks• Mismanagement of areas of arctic forest and unsustainable
logging practices • Pollution from mining activities and metal ore processing plants• Impacts of infrastructure developments • Operational accidents in the oil and gas sector• Land fragmentation• Loss of biodiversity• Overall quality of surface and marine waters
Thank you for your attention!