The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 15 May, 2023

Norwegian Chairship of the Arctic Council Begins

As reported by High North News on May 16, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAOC) Morten Høglund announced that the Arctic Council will begin meeting again in mid-June. The new SAOC also stated that meetings at the political level will remain on hold, but it will consult with all Arctic States and Permanent Participants to determine effective operational guidelines so the working groups and secretariats can start their work as soon as possible. The chairship of the Council transferred from Russia to Norway on May 11. (High North News)

Take 1: After being on pause for more than a year, the transfer of the chairship is a historic moment for the Arctic Council that signals the recommencement of its vital work.With the Arctic facing a multitude of interconnected challenges due to climate change, effective governance, and collaboration is essential to protect the region and its inhabitants. However, the charged geopolitical environment continues to complicate cooperation in the Council. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine makes political contact impossible, preventing participation from foreign ministers. Moreover, as cooperation with Russia remains suspended, it is unclear how the Council’s working groups will resume operations. Despite these difficulties, it is important that Norway provides a continued role for Russia in the Council, given that so much of the Arctic lies within Russian territory. With Russia taking an increasingly antagonistic approach to the region, any cooperation and dialogue within the Council could keep Russia involved in the responsible management of the Arctic. This is especially important since Russia has expressed that it could consider leaving the Council if the organization no longer serves its interests, though no immediate plans have been made to do so. Although the Norwegian Chairship is an important step in restoring the Council’s work, its future is still uncertain, and Norway’s initial actions will be critical in determining whether the Council remains the premier forum for Arctic cooperation. (Arctic Council, CBC News, The Barents Observer)

Homelessness: A New Priority for the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee

Nunatsiaq News reported on May 15 that Prime Minister Trudeau met with the President of Inuit Tapariit Kanatami and other members of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee to deliberate over priorities and assess the committee’s five-year evaluation report. The report added homelessness as a new priority area and listed additional challenges, such as staffing at Inuit partner organizations and coordination between federal departments in Canada. The report also noted that the commitment of leaders and strong coordination between Inuit partners have been instrumental in advancing the work of the Committee. (Nunatsiaq News)

Take 2: Homelessness represents a significant social concern in the Arctic, made worse by the cold and harsh living conditions of the region. This housing crisis is especially severe in Northern Canada, where, according to the 2021 census, almost a third of the 49,000 Inuit were living in inadequate dwellings, and 53% in overcrowded homes. Historic underinvestment in housing, development, and related infrastructure has left many communities without sufficient or safe accommodation. Moreover, new constructions are difficult due to the high cost of transportation and materials, further contributing to the shortage. The lack of adequate housing results in dangerous living conditions and is a severe threat to public health. Overcrowding facilitates the spread of diseases, like COVID-19 and tuberculosis, as social distancing becomes possible. Damaged or inadequate homes are also highly susceptible to mold, causing deadly infections and rendering them unliveable. As global warming continues to physically change the region through permafrost thaw and coastal erosion, the housing crisis will likely escalate.. Therefore, the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee’s decision to prioritize homelessness is a critical step towards amplifying the issue and securing more federal support. With a greater focus on housing, the government and Inuit partners should develop sustainable solutions to address the crisis and improve the health and safety of Arctic communities. (Aljazeera, Arctic Today, CBC News, Statistics Canada)

Denmark’s Foreign and Security Policy: More Focus on the Arctic

As reported by Reuters on May 16, Denmark has released a new foreign and security policy strategy that aims to strengthen its defense relationship with the other Nordic countries to deter Russian military activity in the Arctic and Baltic Sea. The strategy acknowledges that Denmark has underestimated Russia’s threat to Arctic security and has not responded adequately to Russian actions in the High North. It also calls on Denmark to foster diplomatic relations to counter Russian influence and to focus more on protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the region. (Reuters)

Take 3: In recent years, Russia has taken an increasingly militarized approach to the Arctic,rebuilding and modernizing its Arctic bases, expanding military operations, and investing in new weapons systems, including its subsea capabilities. From underwater cables to gas pipelines, countries depend heavily on critical infrastructure for essential flows of information and goods. The Arctic and adjacent areas, like the Baltic Sea, host large amounts of these critical infrastructures, which are becoming increasingly vulnerable to attack. For instance, in 2022, an undersea communication cable to Svalbard was severed, and an explosion disrupted the Nord Stream gas pipelines near Denmark; both incidents are suspected to be acts of sabotage. Denmark’s updated foreign and security policy strategy underscores the changing security environment in the Arctic and the growing threat to critical infrastructure. As Russia continues to project its presence in the Arctic, Denmark’s strategy astutely recognizes Finland’s accession to NATO and Sweden’s expected membership as opportunities to bolster defense in the region. Nordic security cooperation is already robust, but enhanced coordination through NATO would bolster the alliance’s Arctic capabilities further. With tensions between NATO and Russia still high, security concerns in the Arctic are likely to intensify. However, while defense investment is important for national security, countries should also work to restore cooperation to address the region’s other challenges as well. (NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, Royal United Services Institute)

Canadian Arctic Conference Advocates for Full Indigenous Research Partnerships

As reported by Eye on the Arctic on May 12, the second session of the Arctic Frontiers Abroad: Canada conference took place in Montreal with a focus on science, research, and business development. Among other topics, the conference discussed the importance of full research partnerships with Indigenous communities that enable their priorities to inform and guide projects. It also examined the role of youth initiatives and student exchanges in driving Arctic innovation. The Arctic Frontiers Abroad: Canada series began in Ottawa on May 11, featuring several panels of professors and other experts. (Eye on the Arctic)

Take 4: The severe impacts of global warming on the Arctic environment and its inhabitants have led to a surge in research focusing on Indigenous communities in the region. However, the primary beneficiaries of research tend to be the researchers themselves, through access to funding, data, and career advancement. Too often, researchers study Indigenous communities without inviting them to participate, explaining their purpose, or sharing their results. This exclusion from the research process fosters mistrust and results in misguided solutions or research outcomes that are unhelpful or even irrelevant to local communities. Although there have been advancements in fostering inclusive partnerships, Arctic research continues to be shaped by the legacy of colonialism and the privileging of science over Indigenous knowledge. Therefore, the discussions at the conference rightfully recognize and promote the active role that Indigenous communities can have in driving Arctic research. Community-based approaches not only demonstrate respect but also lead to research better aligned with the needs of Indigenous communities, enabling them to develop solutions and gain insights about the issues that actually matter to them. As one of the primary stakeholders in the region and the people most affected by the Arctic’s challenges, the priorities of Indigenous people should guide the research agenda. Thus, as the conference recommended, academic institutions, researchers, and governments should establish full research partnerships with Indigenous communities. This will not only improve collaboration, but drive innovation,and yield more beneficial research results. (Arctic, Arctic Institute of Community-Based Research, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami)

Russia’s New Icebreaker Avoids the Northern Sea Route on Maiden Voyage

As reported by The Barents Observer on May 16, the Russian Navy’s new icebreaker Yevpatii Kolovrat did not sail through the Northern Sea Route on its maiden voyage to join the Pacific Fleet. The Pacific Fleet, one of Russia’s major naval formations, is headquartered in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East and plays a critical role in Russia’s defense in the Pacific region. Instead, Yevpatii Kolovrat used the southern route through the Suez Canal. The vessel, designed to break through 1.5-meter thick ice, was built to escort warships along the Russian Arctic coast and supply remote Arctic naval bases. The Yevpatii Kolovrat is the second icebreaker that the Russian Navy has constructed through the 21180 Project. (The Barents Observer)

Take 5: With the Yevpatii Kolovrat set to join the Pacific Fleet, Russia’s latest naval icebreaker will strengthen its operational capabilities in the Arctic and military presence in the region. However, the icebreaker’s maiden voyage through the Suez Canal also illustrates the continued challenges to the development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The passage is featured prominently in Russia’s Arctic strategy, and the government has invested heavily in transforming it into a major transportation and shipping route. Yet, despite the significant investments, shipping and transit through the route remain limited. In fact, no vessels have sailed through the Arctic passage since October 2022, barring a handful of LNG carriers receiving icebreaker assistance. Although the NSR is shorter than other routes, it is often deemed unreliable and potentially hazardous due to extreme weather conditions, infrastructure deficits, and logistical complications. The Russian Navy’s decision to avoid the passage may further dissuade international shipping companies from considering the NSR. Moreover, environmental concerns, rising tensions, sanctions against Russia, and general instability may further deter shipping firms from choosing the NSR over alternative routes. Thus, even as the Yevpatii Kolovrat will bolster Russia’s defensive abilities in its Arctic zone, its maiden voyage also raises serious questions about the long-term viability of the Northern Sea Route. (The Arctic Institute, Harvard International Review)