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THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION COMPENDIUM

MULTILATERAL / MARINE SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION
Volume(s) 1-3; pages 2671-2676


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Founding Articles for an International Arctic Science Committee, Resolute Bay, 1990


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Done at Resolute Bay 28 August 1990


Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the U.S. Department of State


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Founding Articles for an INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC SCIENCE COMMITTEE (IASC) Final Edition, August 1990

Contents

Page

International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)

The Arctic

The Proposal

Preamble

A. General Principles

B. Organization

C. The Council

D. The Regional Board

E. Working Groups

F. The Arctic Science Conference

G. Secretariat

H. Rules and Procedures

I. Review of Founding Articles

J. Entry into Effect of the Founding Articles

Signatures

Addition

INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC SCIENCE COMMITTEE - IASC

IASC is a non-governmental scientific organization established to encourage and facilitate international consultation and cooperation for scientific research concerned with the Arctic.

The committee covers all fields of Arctic science and provides a forum for discussion, exchange of information and cooperation.

THE ARCTIC

There has been a growing national and international interest in the Arctic, stimulated largely by the recognition of the scientific and political importance as well as its economical potential.

The Arctic region is environmentally sensitive. The Arctic has a major influence on global systems of climate, weather, ocean circulation and other important environmental issues. It may respond more readily than other regions to global changes; processes that occur mainly in the Arctic region can induce significant effects over the entire globe.

There is an increasing need for scientific knowledge of the Arctic region. This is required for the wise development and management of that region and to ensure that Arctic research contributes fully to world science for the benefit of all mankind. This need comprises many fields of science, and is often of a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary nature.

Some multilateral and bilateral cooperation with regard to scientific activities in the Arctic exists. But increased coordination and information exchange are seriously required.

THE PROPOSAL

This proposal is the result of many preliminary studies, policy statements and discussions within the scientific community and among representatives of science organizations in countries concerned with Arctic science and research.

A preliminary international meeting was held in San Diego, USA, in June 1986. Another meeting took place in Oslo, Norway, in February 1987, involving participants from the eight Arctic countries - Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, USA, USSR. Subsequent meetings were held in Stockholm, Sweden, March 1988, in Leningrad, USSR, December 1988 and in Helsinki, Finland, in May 1989. Many have contributed and helped in this process. The Planning Group is grateful for all support and constructive suggestions given to members of the Group.

The Planning Group, responsible for the text, has been composed of:

F. A. Mathys/A. Poole Canada I. Foighel Denmark E. Leppvuori Finland M. Magnusson Iceland O.R. Rogne Norway, chairman A. Karlqvist Sweden R. W. Corell USA V. M. Kotlyakov USSR

PREAMBLE

REPRESENTATIVES

of national scientific organizations of the Arctic countries - Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America;

RECOGNIZING

the need to encourage and facilitate international consultation and cooperation for scientific research concerned with the Arctic;

RECOGNIZING

the importance of the Arctic in advancing world science;

RECOGNIZING

the special interests of the countries of the Arctic Region;

RECOGNIZING

the important role of, and the need to work closely with, national scientific organizations from countries outside the Arctic regions which have an active and continuing Arctic research programme;

HAVE DECIDED

to establish an International Arctic Science Committee, IASC.

A. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. IASC is a non-governmental scientific organization established to encourage and facilitate international consultation and cooperation for scientific research concerned with the Arctic.

2. IASC, in carrying out its activities, will strive for the highest standards of excellence and be guided by the principle of scientific openness.

3. IASC endeavours to cover all subjects and fields of science for the advancement of world science and for the benefit of the Arctic regions.

4. IASC will take into account programmes and activities on Arctic research advanced by other scientific organizations and will cooperate with them whenever appropriate.

5. IASC will not interfere with the scientific activities of any country or group of countries carrying out research in the Arctic, nor commit governments to support or approve programmes or activities.

6. The activities of IASC should be consistent with the regional interests of the Arctic countries.

7. The activities of IASC will in no way affect the rights or obligations of countries under international law with respect to scientific research in areas within their jurisdiction.

B. ORGANIZATION

The IASC is composed of:

The Council

The Regional Board

Working Groups

The Arctic Science Conference

A Secretariat

C. THE COUNCIL

1.

The Council has as its responsibilities, inter alia to:

Develop policies and guidelines for cooperative scientific research concerned with the Arctic.

ii.

Establish Working Groups, as needed, and determine the terms of reference for and participation in such groups, and

iii.

Endorse plans developed by Working Groups and recommend scientific programmes and projects.

iv.

Recommend, in cooperation with the appropriate Working Groups, implementation plans for IASC programmes and activities.

Develop plans and facilitate the coordination of logistics and operations for IASC programmes, projects and activities.

vi.

Decide on the participation of representatives of national scientific organizations from the non-Arctic countries.

vii.

Organize Arctic Science Conferences.

2.

Participation in the Council will be open to:

Representatives of the scientific organizations of the eight Arctic countries,

ii.

Representatives of the scientific organizations of any other countries, during such time as those countries are engaged in significant Arctic research.

3.

The representatives on the Council are appointed by their relevant national organization to represent the scientific community in their countries.

4.

The Council will carry out its functions on the basis of consensus, taking into account the regional interests of the eight Arctic countries. In matters of special regional interest, the eight Arctic countries may pursue cooperative scientific programs or projects directly, or using IASC as a forum.

D. THE REGIONAL BOARD

1.

The Regional Board will consider general regional problems and other questions which affect the common interests of the Arctic countries. The purpose of the Board is to ensure that the activities of IASC are consistent with those interests.

2.

The representatives on the Regional Board are appointed by the relevant national organizations of the eight Arctic countries to represent the scientific community in their countries.

3.

The Board will normally hold its sessions concurrently with the sessions of the IASC Council.

4.

With respect to IASC proposals for cooperative scientific research programmes and projects in Arctic areas within the jurisdiction of the Arctic countries that may affect economic, social, environmental and other major interests of the Arctic countries, actions taken by the IASC Council will take into account the recommendations of the Regional Board.

5.

The work of the Regional Board will be carried out on the basis of consensus.

E. WORKING GROUPS

1.

Working Groups provide the main fora for the IASC to develop programmes and activities. They are established by the Council to:

Exchange information,

ii.

Discuss problems, methods and research directions,

iii.

Identify opportunities for cooperation.

2.

Working Groups will develop and recommend proposals for programmes, projects and activities to the Council.

3.

Working Group participants will be scientists with expertise in the central task of the Group. Each participating country may have one or more members of a Working Group. Working Groups may invite scientists or other experts from any country to assist them in their work, with the Council's approval.

F. THE ARCTIC SCIENCE CONFERENCE

1.

An Arctic Science Conference will be convened periodically by the IASC to identify key scientific questions and issues. The Conference will provide an international forum to:

Review the current status of Arctic Science,

ii.

Provide scientific and technical advice,

iii.

Promote cooperation and links with other national and international organizations, and

iv.

Increase understanding and support for the work of the IASC. 2.

To meet these objectives, the Conference will seek the participation of scientists from the broad international scientific community involved in Arctic research.

3.

The Conference will be organized under guidelines and procedures established by the Council.

4.

The Conference will produce a report and recommendations which will be reviewed by the Council.

G. SECRETARIAT

1.

A Secretariat will be established to serve the organizational needs of the IASC. 2.

The Secretariat will be directed by an Executive Secretary responsible to the Council.

3.

The host country will provide basic funding for the operation of the IASC Secretariat. Basic funding includes salaries for an Executive Secretary, office help, basic office expenses and some travel funds.

4.

The Secretariat will be located in one of the Arctic countries.

H. RULES AND PROCEDURES

The Council may establish, as needed, Rules and Procedures to guide their work.

I. REVIEW OF FOUNDING ARTICLES

Five years after the entry into effect of the Founding Articles, a meeting will be held to review the activities and the organization of the IASC, and, if necessary, to revise the Founding Articles.

J. ENTRY INTO EFFECT OF THE FOUNDING ARTICLES

1.

The Founding Articles will take effect when endorsed by the representatives of national scientific organizations of the eight Arctic Countries.

2.

Endorsement will take the form of signatures by representatives of the national scientific organizations of the Arctic Countries, who have signed below.

Resolute Bay, August 28, 1990

National Scientific Organization:

Signature:

Canada:

The Interdepartmental Committee on International Science and Technology Relations

J.E.G. Gibson

Denmark:

The Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland

Karsten Secher

Finland:

The Academy of Finland

Paavo Tulkki

Iceland:

The Icelandic Council of Science

Magnus Magnusson

Norway:

The Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters

E.R. Neumann

Sweden:

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Carl-Olof Jacobson

USA:

The National Academy of Sciences

Philip M. Smith

USSR:

The USSR Academy of Sciences, the Arctic Research Commission

J.S. Gramberg

Legislation has been introduced in Canada's Parliament to establish the Canadian Polar Commission, a non government body with a formal mandate to provide the focus for Arctic science in Canada. When the legislation is passed, the Canadian Polar Commission is expected to be designated as Canada's National Science Organization for IASC.