Appendix 5
A Proposal for an Arctic Biogeochemical Research Strategy for Canada
Dr. Leonard Barrie,
Atmospheric Environment Service, Environment Canada
Knowledge forms the basis for wise policy making. Canada's past record in organizing and coordinating scientific efforts has been both brilliant and ineffective. Essential elements of a coordinated science effort in the Arctic are
- An experienced, focused, and well organized group that can host multi-agency and multidisciplinary initiatives in a productive and non-adversarial atmosphere;
- Funding to "seed" strategy development and adequate support from appropriate federal agencies including DFO, DOE, DIAND, NRCan, Health Canada, DOT, etc., and other institutions;
- Multistakeholder ownership of the strategy; and
- An effective communications component to the strategy
Arctic environmental issues important to Canada in a regional ands international context include
- Contaminants - long range transported; affecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems;
- Climate change in the Arctic and the role of Arctic atmospheric systems on global climate patterns;
- Stratospheric ozone depletion and Ultraviolet-B radiation;
- Lower atmospheric ozone depletion and mercury inputs
Each of the above requires a focused, centrally funded and guided research program of five years duration to achieve substantial results. The model for such programs is the Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) which had many of the elements needed to carry out a successful program. This Canadian program has been instrumental in shaping the AMAP program and the UN-ECE initiatives on protocols for persistent organic pollutants.
Next Steps
- Fund the NCP for five more years to follow through on newly identified science needs and to track the effectiveness of international accords on contaminants.
- Create an Arctic Environmental Research Council with broad stakeholder membership to provide overall direction and review.
- Establish new programs for climate change and Ozone-UV-B.