US refusal sinks Arctic climate change declaration

ROVANIEMI, May 07 (AFP): Members of the Arctic Council meeting in Finland's far north on Tuesday failed to issue their traditional final declaration due to a US refusal to mention climate change, delegates said.
At the start of the 11th ministerial meeting, chair Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini announced a change to the planned agenda, saying the final joint declaration would be replaced by ministerial statements. He provided no explanation.
Several sources said it was because member states were unable to reach an agreement, with the United States alone refusing to mention climate change in the final text.
This is the first time the Arctic Council, which held its first meeting in 1996, failed to present a final declaration at the end of one of its ministerial meetings, which are held every two years.