Arctic

Russia plans to build floating nuclear power stations in the Arctic in order to exploit its oil and gas reserves. The power stations, which will consist of two nuclear reactors atop a steel platform, will allow Gazprom to power its drills in the Arctic’s notoriously difficult waters. The floats would also maintain their own waste and […]

The second major event of the week in Tromsø was the biennial Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting. Representatives from all of the permanent member states of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States were in attendance, along with representatives from observer states. Climate change was of course high on the agenda this […]

This is a busy week for the normally sleepy town of Tromsø, Norway a city over 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, as it is hosting two conferences: one on global warming, and the annual Arctic Council meeting. Global Warming Conference On Tuesday, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and former Vice President Al […]

Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean arrived today in Oslo, Norway to embark on a three-day tour of the country meant to bring the two states closer together. The Governor General is the official representative of the Queen of England. She remarked that Canada and Norway’s shared northern geography makes them “brother and sister in the […]

Tonight at 10 PM, MSNBC will air the first installment of a four-part series on the environment, called “Future Earth.” Tonight’s episode, “Journey to the End of the World,” focuses on global warming’s effect on the Arctic. Most of the show is spent following the journey of an Arctic expedition onboard the ship Tara. The […]

Just a few weeks ago, the Russian National Security Council announced its Arctic strategy for the next decade. A good portion of the policy plan is dedicated to the need to facilitate sea transportation via the integration of the Northern Sea Route. Absent from the document, however, was a plan for rebuilding Russia’s ailing sea […]

The Arctic supposedly holds 90 billion barrels of oil – 22% of the world’s remaining oil and gas reserves. These ample supplies make the region highly desirable to the oil and gas industry. Under the Bush Administration, the Department of the Interior auctioned off leases for offshore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf to take […]

The government of Japan has submitted its application for observer status in the Arctic Council to its current chair, Norway. Though Japan does not possess any Arctic claims, the government is interested in gaining greater access to discussions and negotiations on the Arctic. Japan could benefit heavily from the opening of the Northwest Passage, which […]

This week, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon gave a speech on Canadian Arctic policy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He outlined Canada’s interests in the Arctic, which include social and economic development for Northerners, energy exploitation, international collaboration with other Arctic states, defense and security, climate change, and the […]

Last week while attending a conference on Afghanistan at the Hague, Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The two discussed their country’s Arctic policies, with Lavrov assuring Cannon that Russia would adhere to the U.N. Law of the Sea when resolving territorial claims. Cannon brought up the issue of […]

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened the first ever joint meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council by announcing that both she and President Barack Obama are determined to finally ratify the U.N. Law of the Sea Convention. Clinton stated that saving the Arctic “starts with the Law of the […]

While Canada has been casting a wary eye on Russian plans in the Arctic, Norway has no such qualms about the Kremlin’s plans for the High North. On March 27, the Russian Security Council revealed its Arctic strategy through the year 2020 and beyond. The plan includes improving and enlarging the capabilities of Russia’s military […]