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Securing a Sustainable Future in the Arctic
The report examines the development of leadership capacities among youth in the circumpolar North, specifically focusing on the impact of the Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program and other experiential learning initiatives. It identifies a 'capacity deficit' in the North where positions outnumber qualified locals, and outlines systemic barriers such as biased educational curricula and a lack of northern role models. The document argues for a diversified, long-term regional leadership strategy that integrates indigenous and western teachings, expands post-secondary access, and increases youth participation in decision-making processes.
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Document type: Report
The No-Nonsense guide to Communication, Climate Justice and Climate Change
The document argues that climate change is a profoundly ethical issue where the global North bears primary responsibility for emissions while the global South and marginalized groups suffer the most severe impacts. It advocates for 'climate justice'—a vision to alleviate unequal burdens through fair treatment and policies that address the structures creating inequality. The guide critiques market-based solutions like carbon trading and agrofuels, calling them 'false solutions' that allow rich nations to avoid responsibility. It highlights specific vulnerabilities, noting that women are disproportionately affected due to their roles in managing natural resources and limited access to decision-making. The text also introduces the Greenhouse Development Rights (GDRs) framework, which proposes a 'development threshold' to ensure the poor are not burdened by the costs of the climate transition. Finally, it provides practical advice for journalists to localize climate stories by amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable and comparing local environmental changes with global causes.
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Document type: Guide
Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World
The report examines the intersection of climate change, national security, and sovereignty in the Arctic, focusing on Canada's strategic position. It notes that receding ice is opening new shipping lanes and resource opportunities, leading to increased military posturing among littoral states. While Canada has increased defence spending and planned infrastructure like the Diefenbaker icebreaker and bases at Resolute Bay and Nanisivik, the report argues that 'hard military power' is insufficient. Instead, it recommends that Canada leverage 'soft power' by leading in Arctic environmental management, engaging indigenous and northern communities in decision-making, and updating its Northern Foreign Policy to reflect current geopolitical realities.
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Document type: Report
Early Warning Signs: Global Warming—Spring Comes Earlier
The document details the biological and physical shifts resulting from global warming, noting that minimum temperatures are rising faster than maximum temperatures. This trend has led to earlier ice break-up, snow melt, and the advancement of biological events such as bird nesting and plant flowering, particularly in Europe and North America. These shifts create risks of ecological desynchronization, such as polar bears in Hudson Bay having less time to hunt on sea ice.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Environmental Change and the New Security Agenda: Implications for Canada's security and environment
This research paper examines the bidirectional link between environmental change and Canadian security. It identifies three key security challenges arising from environmental change—Arctic shipping routes, energy sourcing, and regional environmental security—while arguing that Canada's post-1990s 'new security agenda' focused on terrorism often competes with and negatively impacts environmental management.
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Document type: Research paper
Environmental Change and the New Security Agenda
The report argues that environmental change acts as a 'threat multiplier' for Canadian security, particularly through the opening of Arctic shipping routes and the scramble for newly accessible oil and gas reserves. It highlights tensions with Denmark over Hans Island and the U.S. over the Northwest Passage. Internationally, it notes that climate-induced migration and resource conflicts increase the burden on Canadian peacekeeping and aid. Conversely, the report asserts that Canada's 'new security agenda'—focused on counter-terrorism and energy independence—often competes with environmental management, as seen in the push for oil sands development and the proposed militarization of the Great Lakes.
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Document type: Report
Choose the Future – Education for Sustainable Development – Conference Report
The 'Choose the Future' conference report details a three-day event in Winnipeg focused on integrating sustainable development into education, business, and government. It highlights keynote addresses on global sustainability, corporate strategies for 'triple bottom line' success, and various concurrent sessions on Arctic climate change, Indigenous perspectives, and K-12 curriculum integration in Manitoba and other Canadian provinces.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change Fact Sheet
The document summarizes key scientific literature on climate change, including the role of CO2 in temperature variation, ocean warming, sea level rise, and ecological impacts. It highlights foundational research from Svante Arrhenius and Charles Keeling, as well as reports from the IPCC and the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Key findings include the detection of human-induced ocean heat increases, the potential for significant sea level rise from ice sheet melt, and the correlation between rising tropical sea surface temperatures and increased hurricane destructiveness.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Earthjustice Supports Listing of Polar Bear as Threatened
Earthjustice supports listing polar bears as threatened due to global warming and sea-ice loss, while urging the government to extend the 'foreseeable future' timeframe to 100 years and designate critical habitats in the Arctic.
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Document type: Statement
Wind Power in New England
The document identifies wind power as the most cost-effective near-term option for increasing renewable electricity in New England, noting that the region's onshore wind resources have the technical potential to supply approximately 60 percent of its current electricity use. It frames this within the broader need to transform the energy system to limit global warming, noting that the Northeast United States emits more CO2 than all but six countries globally. While other solutions like energy efficiency and carbon capture are discussed, wind is presented as more viable than solar, bioenergy, or geothermal power in the region due to cost and resource availability. The document states that if all currently proposed wind projects in New England were completed, they would generate over 5,700 gigawatt-hours of CO2-free electricity annually, representing about seven percent of the electricity used in the proposing states.
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Document type: Fact sheet
North American Civil Society Statement to the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum
The document outlines a series of policy recommendations from North American civil society to UNEP, emphasizing the region's responsibility as a major producer of chemicals and emitter of greenhouse gases. It calls for the achievement of the 2020 chemicals safety goal, a transition to sustainable energy services, and the integration of sustainability into all forms of tourism.
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Document type: Statement
United Nations Environment Programme North American Regional Civil Society Consultation In Preparation for the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum Facilitator’s Summary
The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment. Participants discussed the role of civil society in engaging with UNEP and worked in parallel groups to draft recommendations for a North American Regional Civil Society Statement. The meeting also served to elect representatives for a global drafting session in Bahrain and the Global Civil Society Forum in Dubai.
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Document type: Report
Proposed TSCA Amendments to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Forty-two organizations oppose a June 17 draft of amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) intended to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The signatories argue the draft contains flaws that would hinder the EPA's ability to regulate new POPs, contradicts the treaty's precautionary principle by requiring a 'reasonable balance' between health and economic costs, and introduces 'sound science' requirements that could invite litigation. They further criticize the draft for establishing a regulatory ceiling that prevents the U.S. from implementing stricter standards than the Convention minimums and for including preemption language that could void state and local protections. The organizations advocate for a draft proposed by Representative Solis, which they claim better enables the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations while preserving domestic environmental law.
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Document type: Statement
Eighteen of Americas most prominent environmental organizations express deep concerns about the Bush Administrations approach towards implementing the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Poll
A coalition of eighteen environmental organizations argues that the Bush Administration's proposed FIFRA amendments fail to effectively implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The groups claim the proposal denies the EPA effective authority to ban additional POPs pesticides, introduces burdensome cost-benefit requirements that contradict the treaty's precautionary principle, and attempts to limit Congressional regulatory power through an unfounded constitutional interpretation. They recommend that implementing legislation adopt a health-based standard of "reasonable certainty of no harm," use international ban decisions as the default for domestic regulation, and ensure the U.S. regulatory process parallels the international decision-making process.
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Document type: Statement
Preliminary Comments on the Chairman’s Paper dated 9 May 2002 Fourth Session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development
CIEL argues that the draft Chairman's paper lacks essential references to human rights and community-based property rights, and fails to adequately regulate biotechnology and intellectual property. The organization proposes specific targets for renewable energy portfolios for export credit agencies and multilateral development banks, and calls for binding international guidelines to mitigate the social and environmental impacts of infrastructure projects funded by export credit agencies.
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Document type: Statement
International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban
The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) and its participating organizations are calling on Canada to resist a $100 million claim from Crompton Corporation under NAFTA Chapter 11. The claim follows Crompton's agreement to stop using lindane, a persistent organic pollutant, in canola seed treatments. The groups argue that lindane is a dangerous neurotoxicant and endocrine disruptor that contaminates the Arctic and human breast milk. They contend that NAFTA's investment rules are being used to undermine legitimate public health regulations and urge the renegotiation of Chapter 11 to protect the sovereign right of governments to regulate toxic substances.
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Document type: Statement
Petitioning for Adverse Impacts of Global Warming in the Inter-American Human Rights System
This research paper explores the potential for bringing human rights complaints against the United States due to the adverse impacts of global warming, particularly focusing on the threats to the fundamental rights of indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic.
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Document type: Research paper
Best Practices for Reduction of Methane and Black Carbon from Arctic Oil and Gas Production
The document analyzes the climate impact of Arctic oil and gas production, focusing on short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) like methane and black carbon. It details emission sources—such as associated gas flaring, venting from storage tanks, and diesel engine exhaust—and proposes mitigation strategies including vapor recovery units, diesel particulate filters, and the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel. The paper emphasizes that while some technologies are standard in lower latitudes, Arctic implementation faces higher costs and infrastructure challenges.
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Document type: Research paper
The Last Climate Frontier: Leveraging the Arctic Council to make Progress on Black Carbon and Methane
The report argues that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as lower latitudes, with black carbon and methane having a disproportionate impact. It proposes that the U.S., during its 2015-2017 Arctic Council Chairmanship, should champion best practices in the oil and gas sector, advocate for a heavy fuel oil ban in shipping, promote clean energy for residential heating, and implement strategies to curb open burning.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change & Human Rights
The document examines the intersection of climate change and human rights, detailing how environmental changes and mitigation/adaptation efforts affect fundamental rights. It highlights the vulnerability of women, children, and indigenous peoples, and reviews key international milestones such as the Malé Declaration and the Cancun Agreements. The guide recommends establishing a Special Procedure on Climate Change and Human Rights and integrating human rights protections directly into the UNFCCC framework.
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Document type: Guide