The Arctic: A Sink for Global Pollution

Marine pollution is a global challenge needing urgent, and cross-border political action. The challenge is imminent in the Arctic, where plastic litter and other types of pollution accumulate from all corners of the world. Such pollution threatens not only the health and well-being of people and animals living in the region, but also ecosystems and blue economies across the globe. 

What can be done to address marine pollution in the Arctic? 

Could a new global treaty on plastic pollution be a game-changer? 

How can we build on the positive momentum around plastic litter to also address other types of marine pollution? 

GRID-Arendal hosted a high-level event on marine pollution in the Arctic at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador in Copenhagen on 25 November 2021 to answer these questions. We brought together key policymakers, ambassadors, experts, and civil society to share experiences and identify solutions for a cleaner and healthier Arctic.

Watch the highlights from the event below:

The conference opened with a passionate plea to attendees, by video, from Johan Sara Jr, a Sami musician and resident of the Arctic.

“On behalf of everyone, and on behalf of indigenous peoples across the world: I urge you to take action. We are all depending on the same resources and oceans. And we all need a clean and healthy Arctic”

Watch the full opening video here:

Wouter Jan Strietman from Wageningen University and Research invited attendees to close their eyes and think about the Arctic. What images come to mind? When attendees were asked to open their eyes, he showed the stark reality of many Arctic coastlines today in a photograph: pollution and litter.

Not all pollution and litter that arrives by sea is local or regional. Watch the video and find out the surprising story of a little plastic ship found on the island of Jan Mayen…

In 2019, the Arctic Council’s working group Protection of Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), alongside GRID-Arendal, published the “Desktop Study on Marine Litter Including Microplastics in the Arctic, responding to the need to better understand the state of knowledge of marine litter in the region. PAME members develop policy solutions and more to protect the environment and tackle the issue of marine litter in the Arctic. Charlotte Mogensen is a member of PAME, listen to her presentation of the Regional Action Plan and projects that have stemmed from the findings of the Desktop Study:

Katrin Vorkamp from Aarhus University and AMAP brought attention to a type of pollution that we cannot see: chemicals. Insecticides and other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are present in wildlife and the wider Arctic environment. Although banned internationally, they are persistent. As climate change causes ice to melt and permafrost to thaw, these POPs that were trapped in the ice or soil are released into the environment. Mercury pollution is also still a problem in the Arctic.

Learn more by watching Katrin’s presentation:

Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson, Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources in Iceland could not join the meeting in person, but sent a video message to attendees. Watch it here:

Lea Wermelin, Minister for Environment in Denmark, calls for action when it comes to pollution in the Arctic. She emphasised the opportunity given by current positive public and political will to combat pollution of the environment, and that we should act on it now.

“We now know enough to recognise that we need a global agreement to guide our actions towards a common goal.”

“The Danish ambition is to adopt a mandate at UNEA 5 to negotiate a new global agreement to prevent plastic pollution at the next possible opportunity.”

Listen to her full speech:

Listen to Lea Wermelin’s positive outlook on the issue of pollution in the Arctic:

Ambassador Katja Nordgaard gives her thoughts on the event and the global treaty discussed.

“This is an issue that affects all of us … Whether you are in the Mediterranean or in Asia, or wherever you are, this is a topic we should all be concerned about.”

“I think we need to be optimistic, because we cannot fail now. And as the Minister said, the expectations also from people in general are that we need to do something concrete. We need to go from words to action.”

Watch the full response here: