Working Group on Environment (WGE)
The Barents Region is becoming a strategic region for the Europe. Its natural resources and new transportation routes will change the global map on resource use and transportation. Until today, the Barents Region is proud of its clean environment, large intact natural areas and unique indigenous culture in Europe. An important challenge, thus, for the prosperity of the region is to promote responsible, sustainable and environmentally sound economic activities.
The Working Group on Environment was launched in 1999 and the chairmanship rotates between Sweden, Finland, Russia and Norway. Finland is chairing the WGE in 2012-2013,
chairmanship programme.
The WGE is expected to cover a wide spectra of issues and to be able to deal with both strong priorities of the Barents Cooperation and great environmental challenges. The work is therefore organized in sub groups and prioritized themes.
Contacts
Contacts of the working group.
Documents
WGE documents
The environmental cooperation of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council started with a meeting between the Ministers of Environment in Bodø 1994. Since then the ministers meet every second year (
meetings between Ministers of Environment)
Barents Ministers of Environment, 8-9 November, 2012, Umeå
L-R: Audun Garberg (NOR), Ville Ninistö (FIN), Anna Prakhova (Indigenous Peoples' representative), Lena Ek (SWE) and Rinat Gizatulin (RUS)
Subgroups
Subgroup on Cleaner production and sustainable consumption
Main environmental challenges in the Barents region are connected to increasing economic activities and use of natural resources. Hazardous substances from waste and industry pose a threat to human health and wildlife in the North. We will focus on promoting cleaner production, best environmental practices and sustainable consumption activities in the regions. One of the most important tasks of the group are the environmental AMAP/NEFCO Hot spots in the Barents Region.
Documents, contacts
Work Programme 2012-2013
Subgroup on Nature Protection
The Barents Region is a continuous geographical area where species cross national borders, as well as transboundary protected areas. To develop the network of protected areas in the Barents Region is a prioritized task in this connection.
Habitat Contact Forum is coordinated with the Subgroup on Nature Protection.
The
Barents Protected Areas Network (BPAN) project is the main project under the Subgroup on Nature Protection. To access the BPAN web page, please go to
www.bpan.fi.
Documents, contacts
Work Programme 2012-2013
Subgroup on Water Issues
Water management, and especially the task of providing the population with clean drinking water, is a great challenge in North-West Russia. Cooperation on management of transboundary water ways is also highly prioritized. Transboundary cooperation on environmental monitoring, such as the Pasvik monitoring program, will be encouraged and supported.
Documents, contacts
Work Programme 2012-2013
Subgroup on "Hot Spots" Exclusion
The AMAP/NEFCO Hot spot list represent the 42 most serious environmental challenges in North-West Russia. The Environment Ministers of the Barents Region have set the goal to launch relevant investment projects in all of the Barents environmental hot spots with the aim to be able to exclude them from the list. The Subgroup on "Hot Spots" Exclusion of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council's Working Group on Environment (BEAC WGE) serves as the central driving force and co-ordinator in the work. The operative work for exclusion of the environmental "Hot Spots" from the List requires thorough effort from regional authorities and other stakeholders. The Nordic Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO) is conducting pre-feasibility studies, in order to develop modernization projects excluding the hot spots.
Documents, contacts
Work Programme 2012-2013
Website for the Information System on the Barents Environmental Hot Spots
Exclusion of the Barents Environmental Hot Spots - Final Report to the Ministers (2010)
Climate change
Climate change happens faster in the Arctic than elsewhere on earth. The Barents Council has developed a policy document with climate measures, relevant for the Barents Region. The WGE focuses on the challenges the Barents Region will face due to climate changes, and on mitigation and adaptation measures.
Meeting Report from the Climate Change Workshop in Oslo, 21-22 March 2012
Analysis of Regional Climate Change Strategies in the Barents Region - a report by the Finnish Ministry of Environment (2012)
The Working Group on Environment's
presentation at the BEAC CSO Meeting in Oslo, 7-8 December 2011
NEFCO's
presentation at the BEAC CSO Meeting in Oslo, 7-8 December 2011