The United States concerned but little involved.
Representatives of 8 countries bordering the Arctic, including the United States, met in Reykjavik (Iceland) to decide on a response to the Artic Climate Impact Assessment, published two weeks earlier. In this document, the result of four years of research, 300 scientists expressed their fears about the current rise in temperatures in this polar region. But the report resulting from the negotiations carried out by the members of the Arctic Council
does not appear to be up to the stakes. It limits itself to recognizing the problem and encouraging the adoption of effective countermeasures, without specifying which ones.
In particular, no common strategy aimed at limiting the emission of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change in the Arctic has not been adopted, and this mainly under American pressure. The Bush Administration declares in particular to favor volunteering
and research into renewable energy and carbon dioxide storage technologies to improve the situation. The president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, an independent organization bringing together scientists and ordinary citizens, has called this position "irresponsible in the extreme". WP 25/11/04 (Arctic Council urges action on warming)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11104-2004Nov24.html