OFFICIALS from the world鈥檚 eight Arctic nations signed an agreement in
Ottawa last week to create the Arctic Council, an international forum for
discussing the environmental and social problems that face the world鈥檚 most
northerly regions.
Unlike the Antarctic Treaty, the document sets no environmental standards for
the Arctic. The council will not be able to compel its members鈥攖he US,
Canada, Russia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark (including
Greenland)鈥攖o follow specific environmental policies, but will be a forum
for sharing information and cooperating on issues such as preserving
biodiversity.
Three organisations representing the indigenous Inuit peoples of the Arctic
will have nonvoting seats on the council.
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