The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) urged on Thursday the European Union (EU) to keep an eye on attempts to exploit arctic oil resources.
In consideration of the Arctic's fragile environment, and the complete lack of any technical ability to clean up oil spills in ice covered waters, the WWF calls for a moratorium on oil development in the Arctic at least until such clean-up ability has been demonstrated, said the WWF European Policy Office.
"Many arctic species are already under stress from human activities and climate change. There is a strong need for avoiding additional pressures on the environment caused by unsustainable exploitative activities. The Arctic requires a shared approach to governance with ecosystems conservation as a core value to the benefit of future generations," said Neil Hamilton, director of WWF International's Arctic Program.
The Arctic is on the threshold of historically unprecedented, potentially dangerous ecological change which will have global repercussions, said the WWF. The most prominent change is the severely accelerated melting of the arctic sea ice, which opens new opportunities for the exploitation of arctic resources such as expanded oil and gas development, new commercial fishing and increased shipping.
"We are concerned that the present set of rules for the Arctic are not strong enough or broad enough to ensure environmental protection and sustainability for the region," said Hamilton.
The WWF was responding to a European Commission policy paper on the Arctic released on Thursday. The WWF welcomed the policy paper as an important contribution to the preservation of the Arctic region.
Source:Xinhua
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