[View the story "Carving up the Arctic" on Storify ]Carving up the Arctic
Is rapid ice melt changing the world's geopolitical landscape?
Storified by The Stream · Thu, Dec 06 2012 14:34:15
UD scientist sees Arctic ice loss firsthand.jenniunda
USA/AJstream
FILM-GLACIERS/AJstream
Dramatic change in the Arctic landscape have been attributed to rises in global temperatures, as well as the increased rate of
burning fossil fuels . The effects are shown in this short clip provided by NASA.
NASA animation of temperature data from 1880-2011climatedesk
One possible result of these rapid changes in climate is a disruption of weather patterns:
Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: The Jersey Shore is wiped out.vivatherockabilly
US-157554388AJstream
If hurricane sandy and 70 degree weather in UP during December doesn't scream global warming i dunno what doesAxel Logan
Right now, world leaders are in Doha for the UN Climate Change Conference 2012 (COP 18). One of the main issues under discussion is how to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Intercambioclimatico
"No one is immune to #climatechange -- rich or poor." See what else Ban Ki-moon said at #COP18 in Doha:
http://j.mp/R4MSsnUnited Nations
Some experts argue that failure to reach an agreement would have far-reaching geopolitical consequences.
Former U.S. Navy chief oceanographer David Titley estimates that "sometime between 2035 and 2040 there is a pretty good chance that the Arctic Ocean will be essentially ice-free for about a month" each year. If so, polar shipping lanes will cut transit distances by up to 40 percent, saving ship owners big bucks on fuel and maintenance. They could pass those savings on to producers and consumers of the cargo their vessels carry. Global warming, it appears, could bestow significant advantages on mariners, fostering economic growth in the bargain.Open Seas - By James Holmes | Foreign Policy
To give an idea of what this might look like, the blog
io9 has developed a computer composite juxtaposing present-day Earth with a hypothetical ice-free Arctic we may see in the future.
Io9
Here, former US Navy chief oceanographer David Titley gives his take on the geopolitical consequences of climate change:
Rear Admiral David Titley, US Navy, discusses climate change at COP17oneworldtv
An ice-free Arctic would also mean greater access to the oil and natural gas believed to be underneath the Arctic seabed. Some scholars argue that this will lead to an Arctic rush, and countries like China and Russia have already indicated their interest.
Russia literally
staked its claim in 2007 by planting a flag on the seabed below the North Pole.
Wikispaces
The Northwest Passage, which was previously inaccessible, has already been the source of conflict. The passage, along with the Northern Sea Route, is important because it would allow faster commercial shipping between Europe and Asia.
Eatingjellyfish
A reliably ice-free Northwest Passage could be a far shorter alternative to the Panama Canal. A 12,600-nautical-mile trip from Europe to Asia via the Panama Canal would be 7,900 nautical miles using the Northwest Passage. That would save hundreds of thousands of dollars for shipping companies.As ice melts, debate over Northwest Passage heats - USATODAY.com
One thing standing in the way of greater US influence in the Arctic is the refusal to ratify the
Law of the Sea Treaty :
The Institute for Liberty (IFL) has come to the conclusion that ratifying the Law of the Sea Treaty is the most important property rights and wealth building step that America can take to maintain our leading superpower status and to exponentially grow our economy.The Case for Ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty | RealClearPolitics
Russia and China, two of America’s most powerful strategic foes, are actively exploring the Arctic and Pacific for oil, gas and seabed mineral riches. The U.S. is not. Why? Because, Russia and China have ratified the Law of the Sea Treaty and the U.S. hasn’t. Without ratifying LOTS, the U.S. has no standing to apply for mining and drilling permits under international law.The Case for Ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty | RealClearPolitics
However, the race for Arctic resources is not limited to Russia, China and the US.
A European Union vice president, Antonio Tajani, rushed here to Greenland’s capital in June, offering hundreds of millions in development aid in exchange for guarantees that Greenland would not give China exclusive access to its rare earth metals, calling his trip “raw mineral diplomacy.”Arctic Resources, Exposed by Warming, Set Off Competition - NYTimes.com
Some point out that the indigenous communities affected by climate change in the Arctic are largely absent from the conversation.
#AJStream Where do the indigenous fit into the equation? We speak of the wildlife and the resources, but no mention of the indigenous pop.Gabriela Ivonne
@AJStream Please, where to rights of indigenous people fit into this discussion? And the animals? And the climate?Peter Burgess
Steve Omittuk, a native Alaskan and the mayor of Point Hope, Alaska, explains the dilemma his community faces:
"It's hard for the people," he said. "They need money, they need income, they need our economy to come up, but we need our way of life also. It's a tough battle to choose."Page 2: Battle for the Arctic: Oil Drilling Still Faces Environmental Concerns - ABC News
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