Difference between revisions of "Arctic Ocean Ice Meltdown - Emerging Issues in Energy, Environment and Sustainability"
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|Agreement=United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea | |Agreement=United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea | ||
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| + | |Summary=The changing climate in the Arctic Ocean has given rise to legal concerns regarding national defense and mineral exploitation. As a result the question of State sovereignty over the Arctic has become again a matter of political importance. Arctic States expect that the decrease in the sea ice will make the exploration and the exploitation of more oil and gas deposits economically feasible. Reports on the expected oil and gas available in the subsoil of the Arctic Ocean led to the suggestion that the “race” for the Arctic was inspired by the desire of the Arctic States to control these unexploited resources. | ||
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| + | Despite the region's valuable resources, until fairly recently, the international community has paid little attention to the Arctic. As the Earth's atmosphere has warmed and the Polar Ice Cap has thawed, Arctic waters have become more navigable, causing fossil fuels in the Arctic to become more accessible. The resolution of Arctic territorial disputes will have a profound impact on geopolitics, property ownership, and international law especially in an economic climate of escalating oil prices. | ||
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| + | But at the same time the North Pole is physically changing, exploration of the area is increasing. Improvements in marine technology — led by non-Arctic states such as South Korea — are allowing different types of vessels to enter the region, even in the presence of ice. The ongoing discovery of untapped oil and gas fields in the area is also driving the development of better technologies. In short, the North Pole region is in a state of massive transformation. | ||
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| + | Moreover, as the navigability of the Arctic Ocean increases through climate and technology, Arctic States and the maritime community interested in shipping in the region face regulatory and infrastructure challenges. | ||
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|Topic Tags= | |Topic Tags= | ||
|External Links= | |External Links= | ||
Revision as of 14:15, 16 July 2014
| Geolocation: | 83° 28' 4.3678", 2° 10' 31.0547" |
|---|---|
| Total Area | 1400000014,000,000 km² 5,405,400 mi² km2 |
| Climate Descriptors | cold-climate (permafrost, tundra, polar) |
| Important Uses of Water | Other Ecological Services |
| Water Features: | Arctic Ocean |
| Riparians: | Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States of America |
| Water Projects: | The Arctic Council |
| Agreements: | Agreement Between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, 1 June 1990, Agreement Between Norway and Denmark Together with the Home Rule Government of Greenland Concerning the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf and the Fisheries Zones in the Area Between Greenland and Svalbard, 20 February 2006, Agreement Between Canada and Denmark Relating to the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Between Greenland and Canada, 17 December 1973, United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea |
Summary
The changing climate in the Arctic Ocean has given rise to legal concerns regarding national defense and mineral exploitation. As a result the question of State sovereignty over the Arctic has become again a matter of political importance. Arctic States expect that the decrease in the sea ice will make the exploration and the exploitation of more oil and gas deposits economically feasible. Reports on the expected oil and gas available in the subsoil of the Arctic Ocean led to the suggestion that the “race” for the Arctic was inspired by the desire of the Arctic States to control these unexploited resources.
Despite the region's valuable resources, until fairly recently, the international community has paid little attention to the Arctic. As the Earth's atmosphere has warmed and the Polar Ice Cap has thawed, Arctic waters have become more navigable, causing fossil fuels in the Arctic to become more accessible. The resolution of Arctic territorial disputes will have a profound impact on geopolitics, property ownership, and international law especially in an economic climate of escalating oil prices.
But at the same time the North Pole is physically changing, exploration of the area is increasing. Improvements in marine technology — led by non-Arctic states such as South Korea — are allowing different types of vessels to enter the region, even in the presence of ice. The ongoing discovery of untapped oil and gas fields in the area is also driving the development of better technologies. In short, the North Pole region is in a state of massive transformation.
Moreover, as the navigability of the Arctic Ocean increases through climate and technology, Arctic States and the maritime community interested in shipping in the region face regulatory and infrastructure challenges.
Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework
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