Mark Pritchard, Siv Mossleth and Lars Haltbrekken in Oslo, 3 April 2024TROMSØ, 4 April 2024 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President and Special Representative on the Arctic and High North Rt. Hon. Mark Pritchard (MP, United Kingdom) has concluded a visit to Norway where he discussed Arctic issues and analyzed Norwegian Arctic policy priorities.
In a series of meetings this week with the Head of Delegation of Norway to the OSCE PA Siv Mossleth, Head of the Delegation for Arctic Cooperation Lars Haltbrekken, Norway’s Arctic Ambassador Morten Høglund and Norway’s Senior Arctic Official Solveig Rossebø in Oslo, Special Representative Pritchard discussed Arctic legislative developments in Norway, the effects of climate change on society including indigenous communities, and environmental, economic and physical security in the Arctic region, as well as the future challenges and opportunities of the Arctic Council following Norway's takeover of the Chairmanship from the Russian Federation in 2023. He also met with the senior leadership of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute to exchange views on latest research data on Arctic security and governance, environmental and Arctic co-operation.
"The Arctic region, which is home to four million people, serves as a vital voice on global climate patterns, influencing weather conditions and ocean currents," Special Representative Pritchard said. "As the Arctic holds immense economic potential, we need to navigate challenges in the Arctic and High North resolutely, particularly amidst geopolitical tensions, and prioritize co-operation, dialogue, and sustainable development for the well-being of the Arctic as a whole – its ecological systems as well as its inhabitants.”
Mark Pritchard is shown a new Arctic map produced by the Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, 4 April 2024In Tromsø, Pritchard met with the leadership of the High North Centre, the Norwegian Polar Institute, and the Arctic Council, focusing on emerging trends in Arctic security dynamics and their implications for regional co-operation and wider geopolitical threats and opportunities for multilateral joint working and co-operation.
He was also briefed on current legal debates and challenges related to Arctic activities such as shipping, resource extraction, and climate change adaptation. The Special Representative visited Kongsberg Satellite Services, which tracks greenhouse gas emissions, to learn how KSAT’s satellite monitoring services are utilized for Arctic research and environmental monitoring. Debates with researchers at the Arctic University of Tromsø further enriched the understanding of Arctic issues.
“Scientific research, by fostering a collective comprehension of Arctic challenges, plays an instrumental role in driving policy debates and is widely embraced by parliamentarians for the sustainable management and prosperity of the region and its inhabitants,” Pritchard said. He emphasized that Arctic issues would remain at the forefront of OSCE PA policy debates and conferences.
The visit to Norway marks the second visit to the Arctic region since the appointment of Mark Pritchard as Special Representative on the Arctic and High North, providing an opportunity to enhance senior collaboration with leading stakeholders, exchange perspectives on Arctic developments, and integrate Arctic concerns into policymaking processes, thereby raising awareness of Arctic issues within the Assembly.
For more information on the work of the Special Representative on the Arctic and High North, please click here.
