Driven by Nature: The Future of the Arctic
Because of climate change, the Arctic is transitioning to an ice-free future that will open new trade routes and exploit the polar region's vast natural resources amid the receding ice pack. Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada, the United States, and international organizations are all vying to access these resources. Read the qualitative analysis in this chapter to explore the complexities of international treaties that govern the Arctic and the prospects of innovative multilateral agreements.
How does the changing landscape create a need for political and environmental balance? What are some new opportunities for businesses, economies, and human development?
Driven by Nature: The Future of the Arctic
Innovative international co-operation will be the key to the future of the Arctic. Climate change will drive the process as it offers the opportunity to open new trade routes and exploit the polar region's vast natural resources amid the receding ice pack. The five littoral Arctic countries - Russia, Norway, Denmark (with Greenland), Canada, and the United States - have developed different strategies for the protection and development of the Arctic which are examined in detail in this chapter. But other international powers and organizations, such as the European Union, Nato, and China, have a stake too and are moving to extend their influence and interests. All of them work under a complex framework of international treaties that govern the region, but their track record of co-operation is mixed. In the years ahead, the Arctic offers the tantalizing prospect of innovative new multilateral deals and agreements over security, economic development, and environmental protection. What is lacking at present is the leadership to achieve these challenging but vital goals.
The key factors are international and national vision and the natural and political environment.
Source: Arne Solli, Sverre Diesen, Nils Wang, Haakon Bruun-Hansen, and Benjamin Bilski, https://archive.org/details/breakthrough-innovation-impact/page/n65/mode/2up
This work is in the Public Domain.