The Arctic has reached "an unprecedented crisis point" due to climate change, which is a problem "the most comprehensive threat" The EU commission said in a joint statement on Wednesday.
A statement by the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy called for increased EU involvement "a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous Arctic region."
"The Arctic is particularly sensitive to global warming – it has warmed three times faster than the planet on average over the last 50 years. The current Arctic sea ice is at its lowest level since 1850 and is expected to reach virtually ice-free conditions in summer at least once before 2050," the document stated.
Almost a third of Finland’s land mass is located in the Arctic Circle.
The risks posed to the Arctic by global warming are contributing to sea level rise, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss and the destruction of ecosystems. According to the statement, the melting of sea ice will release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and accelerate climate change.
The EU is working to curb Arctic fossil fuel extraction
According to the Environmental Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, The EU is ready to strengthen its position as a geopolitical player in the Arctic. She said the role of indigenous peoples, especially women and young people, must have a stronger voice in decisions about the region.
"The EU is committed to making the Arctic a secure, stable, sustainable and prosperous region. Secure and stable through enhanced international cooperation, sustainable and prosperous, ensuring a strong link between the EU’s Arctic commitment and our climate policy, the European Green Agreement and its blue economy dimension," Sinkevičius said in a statement.
According to the Commission statement, the extraction of fossil fuels in the region should not increase further. However, Sinkevičius acknowledged that reaching an international consensus on these goals requires "intensified diplomatic efforts."
The communication (PDF file) also noted that gas and oil from Russia in the Arctic continue to be imported into the EU. However, the EU’s wider climate goals include the planned transition to green energy sources and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels.
The EU has announced that it will focus on the green transition in the region and will also set up a European Commission office in Nuuk, Greenland, to raise the profile of Arctic issues in the EU. Greenland is an independent territory that belongs to Denmark but does not belong to the European Union.
The EU Arctic Policy Statement published on Wednesday was an update to the one published in 2016, as its policy has been regularly updated since it began issuing such statements on the region in 2008.
Source: The Nordic Page