The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of October 21, 2019
A Fresh Batch of Islands in the Arctic
On October 24 reports surfaced that the Russian navy had discovered five new islands in the Russian Arctic during a 44 day expedition to Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya archipelagos in August and September. The expedition involved 60 people including civilians from the Russian Geographical Society. The crew travelled the distance of 7,242 km on a rescue towboat rather than an icebreaker. The islands that were discovered range in size from 900 to 54,500 square meters, and are yet to be named. Melting glaciers are seen as the reason why these islands now exist (National Post, Sky News, The Sun).
Take 1: The discovery of new islands seems exciting, and to a degree it is. Yet, it is just another sign of a warming climate. Recent reports continue to indicate that the Arctic region is warming faster than the global average. These unknown islands are just a consequence of this warming. As scientists continue to research these places, it remains to be seen what other discoveries they will yield.
The Arctic is now a Carbon Emitter
New research this week, published in Nature Climate Change Journal reveals that permafrost is thawing so fast in the Arctic that the region is now a source of carbon emissions and no longer a carbon sink. Typically during the spring and summer, vegetation growth absorbs carbon dioxide. During the winter months the amount of carbon released has normally been limited due to the cold climate. Yet, with warming winters, permafrost continues to melt at such a rate that large amounts of carbon are released, more than plants can absorb during the summer. Scientists now estimate that permafrost melt between the months of October through April accounts for 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon released. During the spring and summer seasons, an estimated 1 billion tonnes of carbon gets reabsorbed by plants in the Arctic (Independent, New Scientist).
Take 2: This is a sad development as the downward spiral in the Arctic continues. Yet, melting permafrost is nothing new and the Arctic becoming a carbon emitter comes as no surprise. Scientists in the report admitted that more research still needs to be done during the winter months to better determine how much carbon is actually emitted. As more and more data become available, there must be an increased push to connect science to people and policy development. What does it mean for the individual person far removed from these things? If scientists cannot connect with policy makers and effectively answer this question, then all we will be doing is reading about science reports but never actually changing anything.
Secure Military Communications in Polar Regions
On October 22 the U.S. Air Force announced that secure communications in the polar regions is now possible. The Enhanced Polar System (EPS) provides highly secure and anti-jamming signal capabilities. EPS fills a gap in the previous lack of capability for communications over the polar regions. The system consists of two satellites with one solely dedicated to war fighters that are north of 65 degrees latitude (C4ISRNET).
Take 3: An enhanced Arctic military strategy for the U.S. requires a secure communications infrastructure. The EPS lays the foundation for that capability, and the dedication of permanent assets to the Arctic warfighter shows a U.S. military commitment to the polar regions. While the U.S. military does not yet compete at the same level as Russia does in the Arctic, this could be the sign that greater investment in military spending will occur. The consequences of military buildup in the Arctic region have yet to be fully understood, but there is always a risk of conflict and greater damage to the environment.
Arctic Shipping Pledge Sponsored by Nike and Ocean Conservancy
This week Ocean Conservancy teamed up with Nike to help prevent cargo traffic in the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Shipping Corporate Pledge encourages other businesses to commit to not ship goods through the Arctic Ocean. Currently, 10 other companies have pledged not to ship through Arctic waters. The pledge is part of Nike’s larger Move to Zero pledge, which aims to have the company move towards zero carbon and zero waste (Ocean Conservancy).
Take 4: Businesses taking the lead in encouraging other companies to step away from transporting goods through Arctic waters is a prime example of what can be done to change the current dynamics. With the partnering of a research organization, these two groups show that when government fails to adequately step up, there are other ways to hopefully enact change. While it is too soon to determine what the long-term result of this pledge will be, one hopes that it is more than just a marketing gimmick.
Russia Lures Shippers to the Arctic
This week, the Russian Deputy Minister of the Far East and Arctic Development, Alexander Krutikov, described his efforts in working with a Russian think-tank, Skolkovo. The idea is to create a state-run container ship operator company that will cover the risk costs of shipping through Arctic waters. The aim of covering such costs is to reduce the shipping costs to one that is lower than going through the Suez Canal. Currently, it costs twice as much to ship through the Arctic than through the Suez Canal (Bloomberg).
Take 5: The lure and the bait are set. Now we will see if any fish bite. In this instance the Government is aiming to encourage shipping in the north for short-term economic gain at perhaps long-term harm to the area. Russia is not unique in its desire to improve its economic position by using its Arctic advantage. What is unique about its position is the lengths it’s willing to go to get companies to switch or reduce traffic from the Suez Canal. While the plan to create a state-run ship operator company is not yet confirmed it does reveal how much risk and expense the country is willing to go to accomplish its aims.