ATEMP is based largely on ongoing national and international monitoring and research activities and AMAP national implementation plans (NIPs).

ATEMP is coordinated with and complements the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) and both or these programmes contribute to the Sustaining Arctic Observing Systems (SAON) initiative.

The AMAP Trends and Effects Monitoring Programme is currently being updated. Detailed specifications of the recommended monitoring elements under the various sub-programmes of the ATEMP will be available soon.