25/08/2021 - International Relations

KEY POINTS

·        It is tempting to view the current geopolitics of the Arctic through the lenses of the ‘great power competition’ and inevitable conflict of interests.

·        Keeping in mind the existential threats, the environmental challenges should be an absolute priority for all players in the Arctic region.

·        Arctic summer sea ice levels have declined by more than 10% each decade since the late 1970s and mountain glaciers have shed roughly 250 billion tonnes of ice annually over the last century.

·        According to The World Climate and Security Report 2020 , the Arctic is warming nearly twice as fast as the rest of the planet with consecutive record-breaking warm years since 2014.

·        A good example to be highlighted is the recent case of a Norwegian drilling project; it was taken to the European court by the group of environmentalists.

·        Their main argument is that the negative impact of mining activities can spread beyond the continental shelf of Norway.

·        The environmental transformation and rapid ice melting have also opened up new opportunities in the region, which includes trans-Arctic shipping routes.

·        China, for example, with its self-proclaimed status of a ‘near Arctic state’, has been actively engaged in various projects across the region.

·        All the Arctic actors should have a long-term vision and strategic goals as compared to immediate short-term gains. 

Kindly review. TIA.