The Arctic Messenger Gains a Voice - The Changing Arctic Environment: The Arctic Messenger - page 41

senior officials of the Arctic Council governments. They are prepared by ex-
perts who are organised and coordinated by the secretariat.
3. Fact sheets, web-based information products, videos and leaflets are developed
to communicate AMAP information and results to Arctic residents and the
general public.
How well this strategy will serve AMAP and the Arctic Council in the next decade remains
to be seen, but at the moment, it seems to be providing a satisfactory and practical frame-
work.
This is all I want to say at this stage about the birth and evolution of AMAP. Four
people have now completed terms as AMAP chair since the formative years with Heikki
Sisula (Finland; 1991-1993), me (Canada; 1993-1997) and Lars-Erik Liljelund (Sweden;
1997-1998). They are Hanne Petersen (Denmark; 1998-2001); Helgi Jensson (Iceland;
2001-2004); John Calder (United States; 2005-2009); and Russel Shearer (Canada;
2009-2013). The present chair is Morten S. Olsen from Denmark.
I hope this chapter has provided a basic insight into the breadth of Arctic environ-
mental issues being tackled by AMAP through its monitoring and assessment activities. At
the same time, it is important to understand that AMAP reports to the Arctic Council. The
potential impact of this relationship is that the council has political influence. It can take
steps within Arctic countries in response to adverse environmental news from AMAP and
can call for such actions beyond the Arctic. It truly has provided the Arctic Messenger with
a voice.
1 In order to avoid confusion, I have not followed the custom used by such international organizations as
the United Nations and in technical literature that use an uppercase initial letter whenever an existing con-
vention, protocol, or organization is referred to but its full title is not spelled out.
2 At the time of writing (2013-2014), Canada is chairing the Arctic Council. Curiously, the minister as-
signed to this role is Canada's minister for the environment, a change that some Arctic Council countries
fear may diminish the council's status.