Proposed Solution:
Protect this global commons
for global public good

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90 North Foundation’s proposed long-term solution is to establish an ‘Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure’ (OECM) for the international waters of the Central Arctic Ocean, through an international legal instrument by 2037 – provisionally referred to as the North Pole Marine Reserve.

As an OECM covering the 2.8 million sq km of international waters around the North Pole, it could be the world’s most iconic and largest wildlife reserve – providing optimum protection for its biodiversity and ecosystem services.

As the world’s least disturbed and largest protected marine ecosystem, this North Pole Marine Reserve would make a significant contribution to the global community’s objective to protect at least 30% of our global marine environment by 2030.

The OECM would include legally-enforceable controls on commercial fishing, cargo shipping, deep-sea mining, tourism, and other exploratory, extractive and damaging activities involving surface vessels – but would allow scientific research, military and emergency response vessels.

Achieving this solution involves working with the relevant commercial sectors, environmental organisations, and representatives of nation states to catalyse the necessary consensus.

With the Convention on Biological Diversity classifying the Central Arctic Ocean as an ‘Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area’ (2015), the UN International Maritime Organization having ratified its Polar Code (2017) for shipping operations in the region, and the Arctic Council having orchestrated a voluntary international ban on commercial fishing to 2037, it is evident key sectors, organisations and nations are already aware of the special circumstances, vulnerabilities and risks to the Central Arctic Ocean’s biodiversity and ecosystem.

As an independent, research-based organisation committed to promoting future research that highlights and quantifies the risks to the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem services, the Foundation aspires to become a trusted and valued contributor to the policy-making parties and processes that will deliver the envisaged North Pole Marine Reserve.

The resulting area will cover 2.8 million sq km of ocean, making it the largest marine reserve in the world, and a significant contribution to the global community’s objective to protect at least 30% of the planet’s marine environment.

Our goal is to build the scientific case for the optimal conservation measures. In other words, to establish the cost of not protecting the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem services.

"It’s a deliberate choice and it’s on our watch. Conserve through international law an untouched global resource for future generations, or effectively give the thumbs-up for its exploitation, degradation and destruction, with everyone losing in the end." Pen Hadow

To join us in our work to protect this valuable ecosystem.

Below you will find resources and information on how to get involved and collaborate with us as we embark on this mission.

Engage

Follow our projects, programmes and progress, keep in the loop, and be ready to step in when you’re ready:

Follow us

Keep track of our work. Follow us on our social media platforms and let us know your thoughts.

Check out our events

Come and say Hello if you’re at one of the conferences. Or come to one of our public events.

Get in touch

For other opportunities and collaboration, please get in touch with our team:

Contact us

Support

Take an active role in resourcing our work to deliver the vision

Donations

To discuss making a private or corporate donation, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Partnership

To discuss how your organisation could partner one of our research or education projects/programmes, or become one of the Foundation’s Mission Partners, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Sponsorship

To discuss how your organisation could become a Project or Programme Sponsor with associated marketing rights and benefits, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Advisory

To know more about joining our Special Advisory Panel, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Resourcing

To explore how your organisation’s resources could be deployed to support our work, such as seconded personnel, meeting rooms/presentation spaces, video editing facilities, and hotel accommodation, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Advocate

Let your channels and networks deliver the mission’s message to the key decision-makers

Keynotes, Talks & Briefings

To invite Pen Hadow to provide a conference keynote or a talk at an event you’re organising, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.

Introductions & Networks

To introduce us to networks and individuals in your sector’s relevant policy-making community, or to discuss how you can help communicate our vision, please contact Pen Hadow (Executive Director) on +44 (0)1747 812 244 or send us an email.