Artic nations to fight global warming to prevent glacial melting

Eight countries of the Arctic region have agreed to fight climate change effects in the region, but refused to take any new measures out of deference to the Bush administration.

&to=http://english.pravda.ru/diplomatic/2003/01/08/41746.html' target=_blank>The Arctic Council, which includes the United States, Russia, Canada, and several Nordic countries, issued a seven-page policy report asking countries to adopt "effective measures" to combat climate change without elaborating on what that would entail, reports Boston Globe.

In addition to the climate assessment, the foreign ministers will be discussing co-operation on &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2001/08/21/12943.html' target=_blank>environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic. A key issue here is the efforts to reduce the high levels of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in the Arctic.

The meeting is being attended by the Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Russian and Swedish foreign ministers, the Canadian Minister of the Environment, Greenland’s Vice-Premier, the US Deputy Secretary of State, and high-level representatives of six indigenous organisations, including the Saami Council, which represents the Saami in Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia.