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Tag: opportunities

  • The keyword is “Change”

    The keyword is “Change”

    First policy session of the Arctic Frontiers 2013

    New opportunities create new challenges. The present and close future creates the challenge of how to explore, develop and manage the great resources of the Arctic Region. New commercial activities and growing business community, together with democratic dynamics are to alter long time established social structures in the Arctic Region.

    Non – Arctic Asian and European states and organizations increase their interest in the Arctic.

    Policy session of the 7th Arctic Frontiers conference, that takes place in Tromso, northern Norway, addresses the contemporary and emerging political issues for the changing Arctic. How do states in and outside the region prepare strategically for the new Arctic reality?

    How does the global security architecture impact on security in the Arctic? How important is Arctic oil and gas production for global demand and the energy security of various states? How will traditional businesses interact with new industry, and if and how will profits from industrial activities benefit the people living in the High North.

    Those questions will be answered during the first two days of the 7th Arctic Frontiers that are taking place in Tromso, northern part of Norway. The conference will last until the 25th of January. It is divided into policy and science sessions. The policy sessions will be held today and tomorrow while the scientists will present their research during the next three days.

    For more information, please be referred to the conference website.

    Source

    Arctic Frontiers website

  • Opportunities with Arctic Sea Ice Decline

    Opportunities with Arctic Sea Ice Decline

    Tourist cruise ship, Svalbard

    Shipping

    The possibility of a trans-arctic shipping route has intrigued seafarers since the days of the first Arctic explorers, as it would shorten the distance between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean significantly and shorten trading routes. This possibility still intrigues many and is an issue that has received significant media coverage; it probably will become a possibility during the 21. century due to declining in sea Ice.

    This would create a number of economic opportunities of Arctic residents as regular transit shipping through the Arctic Ocean would require significant infrastructure, transshipment ports, search and rescue infrastructure would need to be strengthened significantly and numerous other services would be needed.

    Energy exploration

    Less Sea Ice could further enable access to the vast natural reserves located in the Arctic which would contribute further to the regions economic stability, it does however need to be noted that the loss of sea ice in this context could be both a good thing as well as something creating a problem. Less sea ice would mean better access but at the same time mean stronger waves and storms which could endanger infrastructure such as platforms for oil and gas exploration.

    Private yacht in polar waters, near Svalbard

    Tourism

    With less sea ice coverage, it could be estimated that more cruise ships would venture into the Arctic, which also creates the need for more infrastructure and offers local communities opportunities to offer services to tourists and further build up the Arctic infrastructure.

    All of these opportunities mentioned have their upside and downside as well.

    These activities have the possibility if they are not closely managed to pose an environmental threat to the in many ways fragile region, but also could offer quite an opportunity to spur sustainable growth in the North.