Draft Fact Sheet: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

Abstract

In 1997, " Ministers committed "to take [the AMAP] findings and recommendations into consideration in [their] policies and programmes." They agreed "to increase .. efforts to limit and reduce emissions of contaminants into the environment and to promote international co-operation in order to address the serious pollution risks reported by AMAP" and to "draw the attention of the global community to the content of the AMAP reports in all relevant international fora ... and .. make a determined effort to secure support for international action which will reduce Arctic contamination" (Alta Declaration, 1997) In 1998, Ministers reaffirmed their agreement "to work vigorously for the early ratification and implementation of the Protocols on the elimination or reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) ... under the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution" , to "encourage other states to do the same, with the aim to bring the Protocols into force as early as possible" and to "fully support regional cooperation to facilitate the delivery of the measures that are needed to meet the obligations of the Protocols on ..." (Iqaluit Declaration, 1998) Ministers also strongly welcomed "the establishment of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee under the auspices of United Nations Environment Programme to work towards the conclusion of a global agreement on POPs by the year 2000," and encouraged "the Arctic States to act together to assist the early conclusion of such a global agreement." (Iqaluit Declaration, 1998)