The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of April 12, 2021

Environmentalists Call on Norway to Stop Plans for Deep-Sea Mining

As reported by Reuters, on April 12 six environmental organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace released a joint statement urging the Norwegian government to stop plans to permit deep-sea mineral extraction. In January this year, the Nordic country announced a plan to open its extended continental shelf to the exploration and extraction of minerals from the ocean floor, aiming to issue the first exploration licenses by 2023. The coalition of international and Norwegian activist groups condemns these plans citing environmental concerns, and calls on the Norwegian government to condemn deep-sea mining in international waters to the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN agency in charge of regulating the industry. (Arctic Today, Offshore News, Reuters)

Take 1: Long thought to be barren, the seabed has instead been discovered to yield unimaginable mineral riches- but with unknown consequences. The demand for rare minerals for the global green transition has fueled the emergence of a new deep-sea mining (DSM) industry. Getting this industry off the ground has been sluggish over the last half century due to economic and technical barriers. That Norway is prepared to issue exploratory licenses signals a confident shift towards a new commercial reality. This also demonstrates how Norway is looking to pivot away from the oil reserves that have made it one of the wealthiest countries in the world towards ‘greener’ pastures. Yet there remains serious uncertainty about the environmental damage of DSM, as shown by this demand for a moratorium by both green groups – and major corporations. Just as DSM is on the cusp of actualization, it has evidently become a deeply political matter, provoking polarising discussion about ‘progress’ versus ‘precaution.’ This debate is also taking on a geopolitical twist, as demonstrated by the coalition’s desire for Norway to testify against DSM to the international governing body ISA. It is important to note that Norway itself does not need approval from the agency because its plans involve its own continental shelf. This jurisdictional distinction makes claims to the Arctic seabed- such as by Russia just last week – increasingly strategic, albeit disputed, decisions. The legal-political complications of the nascent industry will likely continue to expose how the boundaries of the Arctic high seas lack proper definition and regulation despite their increasing value. (Geopolitics, Nature, Offshore Energy, The Arctic Institute, The Atlantic, WWF)

China to Compete in Annual Russian Arctic Military Game

As reported by High North News on April 9, China will be sending a group of 11 soldiers to take part in a Russian military skills competition in southern Siberia. The tactical exercise, known as the Sayan March competition, begins on April 14 and represents the start of the 2021 Russian International Army Games. China will be competing for the first time in this preliminary event, which places participants in challenges such as mountaineering and reconnaissance in extreme Arctic conditions. In addition to the teams from the Russian Federation and the team from China, the competition will feature teams from Uzbekistan, Georgia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. (High North News, South China Morning Post)

Take 2: Although this might seem like a trivial game between friendly nations, the implications of China’s participation are far more grounded in reality. The harsh, icy conditions modeled by the competition are an excellent simulation of military operation at high latitudes. Conditioning personnel to these unique operational environments is a prerequisite for forces to be able to engage in the region at a tactical level. It is therefore extremely significant that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) forces are seeking out this kind of environment in which to train, as it implies the possible introduction of their forces to the Arctic. It is furthermore significant that Russia is willing to facilitate the training, even in this very limited sense. It is a risky move for Russia to support the enhancement of China’s Arctic warfare capabilities in any way. That Russia is therefore taking such an active lead shows that Russia is keen to benefit from developing Sino-Russian relations in this direction. The countries have enjoyed close diplomatic relations in recent years. In the Arctic this relationship has thus far been restricted to economic, research, governance and navigation domains. However, the recent action suggests that this cooperation is potentially evolving into a more tacit northward facing military alliance. In the face of recent heightened geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, the united front the countries are presenting to the rest of the world is a clear message. (The Diplomat, The Diplomat)

Report Shows Increased Shipping Traffic in Canada’s Northwest Passage

As reported by Eye on the Arctic on April 14, the new Arctic Ship Status Report (ASSR), a report from the Arctic Council, shows that the number of ships entering Canada’s Northwest Passage, and the distances they sail, have been increasing. Produced by the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) working group, the report is part of a project aiming to highlight topical issues related to Arctic shipping. Using data from its Arctic Ship Traffic Data Base (ASTDB) spanning 2013-2019, the report found that the number of unique ships entering the waterway has increased 44 per cent, while distance travelled per journey increased 107 per cent from an average 2.98 nautical miles to an average of 6.17 nautical miles. (Arctic Council, Eye on the Arctic, Nunatsiaq News)

Take 3: This report demonstrates how ice retreat caused by climate change is popularizing previously inaccessible maritime routes. Often discussed hand-in-hand, the Northwest Passage suffers from a geography and political situation that is more difficult to navigate than its sibling, Russia’s Northern Sea Route (NSR). Russia has invested heavily in the infrastructure required to make the NSR suitable for commercial tankers. Shipping companies have therefore been reluctant to transfer traffic to the Northwest Passage that in comparison winds through the narrow waterways of the Canadian Arctic, dotted by isolated coastal communities. While massive headline-catching container ships are yet to grace these waters, this report shows that the Northwest Passage is itself attracting a different kind of lucrative maritime industry: tourism. The cruise industry has the potential to be incredibly profitable while providing an economic boost to local communities. Yet it has also proved to be controversial as scientists have discovered that acoustic disturbances are damaging to species like narwhals. The increase in shipping traffic shown by this report can therefore be of concern both for Canadian Arctic ecosystems as well as the Inuit communities that rely on them. During these days when Russia’s NSR is more likely to find itself in the headlines for impressive physical feats, this report reminds us to consider Canada’s Northwest Passage and the unique economic and ecological dilemmas its future popularity might pose to local communities. (Canadian Geographic, Foreign Policy Blogs, High North News, Victoria News, The Arctic Institute, The New Yorker) 

Colder Waters Caused by Permafrost Thaw, a Potential Threat to Freshwater Ecosystems

Permafrost thaw has the potential to affect Arctic fish stocks by reducing the temperature of small rivers and streams according to a study published in Water Resources Research in February 2021 and highlighted by Science Daily on April 12. Creating computer models based on measurements from river catchments in northwest Alaska, the study found that melting permafrost is causing groundwater to flow deeper in the soil, where it becomes cooler than when it flows near the soil surface. The researchers from the University of Copenhagen conclude that these changes can threaten the survival of fish species as water temperature and chemistry is a critical factor for reproduction and growth. (Eurek Alert, Science Daily)

Take 4: Permafrost thaw represents perhaps the most extensive manifestation of climate change across the Arctic. This phenomenon is primarily depicted as a concern due to its potential to release huge stores of greenhouse gases. But less appreciated is how permafrost plays a critical role in the rest of our complex, interconnected Earth systems, and how its degradation will transform Arctic landscapes. This study therefore addresses this gap by showing how permafrost thaw risks compromising Arctic water cycles, and how it can have unforeseen consequences for surrounding ecosystems. That fish in Alaska might be impacted by permafrost thaw is of concern for the Indigenous people and various animal species that depend on these already critically vulnerable stocks. However, the study also has implications beyond the local Alaskan communities that depend on fish for their income, diets and culture. The cooling of high-latitude small rivers, creeks and streams has for instance been previously documented in Russian rivers. This new study can therefore clarify the origins of this seemingly random Arctic-wide phenomenon, reminding us of the often counterintuitive complications of climate change. Importantly, with freshwater tributaries draining into coastal waters, these changing thermal river regimes on land might affect offshore Arctic ocean circulation and chemical makeup. The findings of this local study clearly points to a much graver issue that requires thorough investigation and potentially global concern. (Scientific American, Nature, Yale Environment 360)

Alaska COVID-19 Vaccinations a Success Due to Indigenous Leadership

As reported by Reuters on April 13, Alaska is leading the U.S. in vaccinations for COVID-19 as a result of tribal health organization campaigning. Through their federally recognized sovereign powers, Alaska Native tribes have secured larger vaccine supplies from the U.S. Indian Health Service (IHS) than the state government, while tribal health care providers have prioritized vaccine distribution through means including planes, sleds, and snow machines. As a result, by early April, more than 42% of all Alaska residents aged 16 and older had received at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. According to state data, in some extremely remote native villages vaccination rates are now approaching 90 percent. (Arctic Today, Reuters)

Take 5: Amidst the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, this story is a reminder that Indigenous people are among the most disproportionately affected population groups- but also some of the most resilient. The news also presents a reminder that understanding the unequal effects and responses to the pandemic requires historical and colonial contextualisation. Longstanding institutional discrimination mean that historical pandemics have decimated entire Indigenous villages, while also leaving them more vulnerable to contemporary COVID-19 because of worse prior health and suboptimal healthcare. With a history and culture so deeply influenced by these factors, motivation for the aggressive present-day precautionary response becomes more clear- despite imposing some of the nation’s earliest and most robust lockdown measures Alaskan Natives still accounted for over 37 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the state last year. Indigenous people across the Arctic in particular have been left in a unique double bind where isolation and small population density have allowed them to be relatively safe compared to other parts of the world, but it has also made vaccine distribution far more challenging. The success in vaccinating these communities in the face of such challenges therefore needs to be clearly articulated as the result of Indigenous innovation and action. In addition to exposing underlying inequities, the COVID pandemic highlights how Indigenous responses can inform future health strategies. (Alaska Public Media, Brookings, Canadian Journal of Public Health, Kaiser Family Foundation)