Climate change is going to affect the arctic more dramatically than other parts of the world. A study has shown that the average temperature has risen over 2ºC from 1960-2011 ("Climate Change In the Arctic"). Just a couple weeks ago the arctic was 20ºC higher than usual. Rising temperatures are going to affect the sea ice and glaciers, vegetation and wildlife as well as infrastructure. Of course these things won't just disappear quietly, they will take many other things down with them.
As global warming has helped dissipate the glaciers and icebergs of the Arctic region, new areas are becoming accessible for commercial shipping, fishing and energy development. The Arctic Council (since 1996) has therefore taken up the challenge of mapping out sovereign bodies to legally allocate and utilize the Arctic region’s vast bounds of natural resources; to settle territorial disputes between the primary Arctic Nations. Today, countries such as the UK are discontented by the fact that the Arctic is not being treated as a country which should be divided among the international community.
The polar ice caps are melting at a pace few nations can afford to ignore, which is yielding potentially profitable sources of energy, minerals, and shipping. But debate is building over whether the Arctic can be developed peaceably. In the 21st century, many experts believe that climate change, technological advances, and ever increasing global demand for resources unlock the economic potential of the Polar North. The melting of Arctic sea ice to record lows in recent years has motivated many nations, mainly those with Arctic Ocean coastlines, such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Greenland to reassess their engagements and interests in the icy polar reaches. Canada’s
Humans have been interacting with the Arctic tundra for centuries now. They have used the land to explore and race, for example, the infamous race between Admunsen and Scott to the South pole. However, the human civilisation on the Arctic tundra have had their implications, both severe and light. Humans have slaughtered whales and seals since very early days, for food as well as commercial and self-profiting purposes. The most recent and paramount problem is global warming and pollution, which is harming the Arctic Tundra far more than the sealing and whaling ever did.
The continuous climate change in the arctic region, more specifically the melting ice caps, poses many opportunities for the United States in regards to economic stability and prosperity. It is because of this change that the Coast Guard is chartered with establishing a more enduring presence in the region. Over the past four years Air Station Kodiak has been supporting Operation Arctic Shield. This year the MH-60 Division is tasked with providing a two helicopter response contingent that will be based out of Kotzebue, Alaska for a four month period spanning from July to the end of October. However, the division will not be able to support this deployment without the help of forces from other H-60 units. I will be outlining challenges involved
Is developing the Arctic for oil and natural gas worth the powerful negative impact on the environment and native communities? The article published on September 20th, 2013 by Jennifer Weeks titled, “Future of the Arctic” examines the Arctic and the controversies within it. In the pro/con section of her article, Weeks asks the question, “Should the United States suspend Arctic offshore drilling?” Senator Mark Begich argues that the resources in the Arctic are too great of an opportunity to miss out on. Although Arctic drilling is a controversial topic, many people believe it should continue because of the financial and ethical circumstances; however, evidence to support this is lacking, which leads to the other side of the debate to be in
Due to the receding Arctic ice there is now a partially open route through the Northwest Passage during certain parts of the year, which could pose a possible threat to Canada. According to the Canadian Ice Service and the US National Ice Center, the passage is almost clear and more than ever since the beginning of routine monitoring in 1972 (The Northwest Passage: In Dispute and Navigable). The opening of this passage has now sparked the interest of the US and Russia in wanting it to be officially deemed as international waters. The Northwest Passage is 7000km shorter than the Panama Canal from Europe to Asia (Byers). This would mean that international shipping companies would be able to save a great deal of time and money. There could also be the possibility to use super tankers to transport oil which is impossible to do through the Panama Canal (Byers). There are ship manufacturers that are currently designing and building vessels that would be able to withstand ice (Byers). The cruise ship industry is also interested in the use of the passage (Byers). There is a Russian
When the Arctic National Wildlife sanctuary is thought about majority of people think about the miles of ice caps one would see, the polar bears relaxing on or playing with one another and then we hear the noises of a seals barking after they have just finish eating fresh fish for dinner. Now, that this thought is so clear, imagine several massive oil drills, enormous well pumps and all types of heavy hauling equipment popping up all around this area that is so overwhelming peaceful. The argument for such action has been in the works for the last
Arctic: Command and control and freedom of navigation in the Arctic region are two factors that will affect the operational environment for Joint Force 2025. Currently eight countries (including five members of NATO, two close allies, and Russia) lay claim to the Arctic region and its territorial waters spread across three continents (Heritage Foundation, 78). With Russia’s exclusive economic zone claim to the entire region, the Arctic has the possibility to be even more contentious than the South China Sea.
America needs to take advantage of the melting ice in the Arctic to access the massive energy resources there and utilize those energy resources to buy itself time to develop sustainable large-scale energy options including nuclear fusion. We simply need more time to develop a good plan, one that can be well executed and will give America a chance to avoid dependency on other countries in order to meet its energy needs. The strategy of utilizing Arctic energy will enable America to maintain a standard of living that is equivalent to what the present generation of Americans enjoy and is an obligation we owe to future generations.
The unpredictability of the arctic is a big problem and it is not good that what happens there first then it will happen to us sooner or later. According to my article the Inuit don’t know when to go hunt.This is bad because the animals can't predict the weather either so they don't know when to come to the arctic so the Inuit have to be aware of when there is any animals and they have to travel farther to hunt.Also according to (My Artical) it is very expensive to travel and that is not good because then they can’t go hunting that often.Sense they have to ship the oil all of the way down from California to the sctic that cost a lot of money so they have to pay extra. Almost twice as much as in Colorado.This is a big problem because you need to eat to survive and they don’t follow the food anymore and they need money to get gas and travel and it is hard to do that if you don’t make that much
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or ANWR is one of the largest areas of protected land in the world. It encompasses areas of Alaska and Northwestern Canada. The area was initially set aside by President Eisenhower in 1960, because of the area’s value to the environment. What with it being part of the shrinking tundra, and the only protected tundra in the United States. However, despite the environmental significance of the ANWR to the surrounding areas, parts of the United States’ government would like to drill for oil in this important area. According to a study by the Gallup organization, support of the drilling has gone down in recent years. On top of that, more recent studies are
The 21st century has begun with one of the most challenge security threats to the United States of America have had to face. The perils of climate change have the ability to impact the national interest concerning power, prosperity and peace. The continued challenges around the world, and domestically, it is critical the US implements a comprehensive grand strategy. Cooperative security gives the US the best possibility to achieve the goals that will lessen the effects and place the US ahead of the international agenda. Combating climate change will require successful policies such as international climate pacts, collective-action and cap and trade initiatives. In the past, we have seen the US shy away from such accords worried about the
With all the good the Arctic National Wildlife refuge has to offer as a safe haven for endangered animals and plant life, comes the burden of sitting on an oil reserve. As noted earlier in 1980, under President Carter, the protected area was doubled. However, the oil industry lobbies succeeded in having the U.S. Senate refuse to designate the critically important Costal Plain as wilderness. Instead, Section 1002 of the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act legislation directed the Department of Interior