Well, what can ECO say! Protecting theArctic from HFO is certainly a theme here thisweek. The Imavut on Monday was a wonderfulopportunity to experience Arctic Indigenousculture and food firsthand. In plenary manycountries spoke up about the importance ofprotecting Arctic people and Arctic economies –perhaps not all with the same emphasis! Thebiggest news has to be Canada’sannouncement that it has become the7th  Arctic State to support a global ban onheavy fuel in the Arctic albeit with a delayedimplementation till 2024. A working group isnow tasked with developing a ban on use andcarriage as fuel but there’s a lot of detail to beworked out yet – delays, exemptions, waiversare all being proposed. Eco hopes thatdelegates at PPR don’t end up delaying ameasure so long that decarbonisation of theshipping industry has overtaken us and theIMO is sitting under meters of meltedicesheets.

The Arctic Summit News

ECO Issue 3- NGONewsletter

PPR 7 - February 19, 2020

A special series of ECOs on the occasion of PPR 7

Updates?!

www.imoarcticsummit.org • eco@imoarcticsummit.org

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London, UK

A Siberian Yup’ik Inuit's perspective: ECO came across this fascinating article "ForArctic Indigenous People, is Foresight 2020?",and will like to share a few powerful quotesfrom a Siberian Yup’ik Inuit's perspective: "if we fail to meet the challenge of theclimate crisis, our inaction will have long-lastingimpacts on the Arctic, its indigenous peoples,and the overall well-being of Earth’s climate”  "In December, my mom posted a pictureshowing no snow or ice in my hometown ofDillingham, Alaska.  I remember Decembersgrowing up with   feet of snow for my friendsand I to play in. Our Decembers were markedby ice-skating, snowball fights, snowmobilingand ice-fishing.  It was heartbreaking seeing mymom’s picture this holiday season knowing thatyounger generations face a future where snowyDecember afternoons are rare.”  "Let’s be proud in the future when we say‘hindsight is 2020’ because we had theforesight to make the tough decisions toprotect our planet and future generations.  TheArctic, and our one and only Earth, are worthit.” For the full article, pleasevisit  https://imoarcticsummit.org/news/for-arctic-indigenous-people-is-foresight-2020/.

ECO is shocked to learn that even in themost remote Arctic areas, large amounts ofplastics can be found washed up on thecoastline. Luckily, Iceland -as Chair of the ArcticCouncil- has recognized this fact and will holdan international symposium on Arctic MarineLitter.A recent investigation by a Dutchresearch institute,  WUR  in Greenland, Iceland,Svalbard, and Jan Mayen shows that plasticlitter can travel long distances via oceancurrents. Recognizable plastic items washed upon Svalbard predominantly consist of fishinglitter. Apart from damaged fishing nets or partsof nets, the researchers found a variety offisheries-related items such as fish boxes,strapping bands, and ropes used infisheries.The IMO  Action Plan to addressmarine plastic litter from ships  offers anopportunity to tackle fisheries litter. ECObelieves that with increasing activitiesin  the  Arctic, measures to reduce inputof  plastic from shipping (including fisheries) inthe High North should be put forward rapidly.

La Clean Arctic Alliance organizó un eventopara delegaciones de Latinoamérica. EstaAlianza propone la prohibición del uso ytransporte de HFO en el Ártico. Lameteoróloga Mar Gómez presentó evidenciacientífica sobre cómo el deshielo del Árticoafecta a la región latinoamericana. La expertapuso de manifiesto los costos humanos,económicos y ambientales que entraña lasituación del Ártico y la urgencia de suprotección frente al derrame de HFO y susemisiones de carbono negro. Pablo Rodas-Martini, experto en industria naviera, alertósobre los peligros de los nuevos combustiblesVLSFO que, si bien cumplen con el límite deazufre, aumentan las emisiones de carbononegro. Esperemos apoyo de las delegacionesa la prohibición de HFO en la región ártica, asícomo a un cambio hacia combustiblesdestilados cuando se opere en el área.

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El Impacto del carbono negro y de los combustibles pesados en el Artico y LatinoAmerica

Dates For Your Diary:

ECO Issue 3- NGONewsletter

PPR 7 - February 19, 2020 London, UK

Plastics in the Arctic

ECO had so much fun at the IMO /Inuit Circumpolar Council's eveningreception!