<p>All drilling and mining activities need to be properly regulated to minimise the risk of damage to the local environment. The extremes of the Arctic climate and the huge variation in conditions in different onshore and offshore locations present particular challenges which need to be dealt with appropriately, but for which there can be no single standard.</p><p>Those best placed to assess and respond to such risks and variations, and to determine how to minimise them are those with experience of the relevant conditions, primarily the Arctic states themselves. The United Kingdom is ready to provide advice where this is sought.</p>