The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of May 9, 2022
Nunavut Hunters Find Plastic in Arctic Char
As reported by CBC News on May 9, hunters in Nunavut have reported findings of plastic inside the stomachs of Arctic char, a type of fish that is consumed as part of their traditional diet. The Chairperson of the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization comments that the discoveries first started around five years ago. (CBC News)
Take 1: Since Arctic char forms a critical part of Inuit culture and cuisine, hunters are concerned about the ecological impacts the plastic may have on such an important food source. The finding has also contributed to worries over the ingestion of plastic and the health of local communities. But the finding illustrates a larger issue throughout the Arctic: wide-scale plastic pollution. Despite its remoteness, significant levels of plastic have made it to the High North. While plastic pollution threatens wildlife worldwide, plastic is a particularly serious issue for the Arctic since it contains many vulnerable species and ecosystems. Marine debris such as plastic bags and packaging are deadly to ocean wildlife, with many being killed after ingesting or entanglement with plastic material. The harm to the Arctic ecosystem poses a risk to Indigenous communities as well. Since many communities rely on local wildlife like the Arctic char as food sources, rising plastic pollution is a threat to their food security. Importantly, the finding draws attention to the lack of adequate waste management services in many Indigenous communities. Without access to infrastructure and resources for waste management, such as recycling, many communities are forced to continue to use landfills and uncontrolled dumpsites that harm public health and leak plastic debris into the environment. Moreover, with shipping and other activity in the Arctic set to intensify, plastic pollution in the region is likely to increase in turn. The spread of plastic is yet an additional pressure to a region already threatened by climate change and pollution, so it is essential that governments and communities work together to develop international and local solutions to reduce plastic levels. (Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Oceans North, The Guardian)
Allied Maritime Exercise Begins in Northern Norway
As reported by High North News on May 10, eight naval vessels from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway are conducting the Mjølner exercise, a joint maritime warfare training, in Northern Norway. The exercise, which will take place from May 9 to 13, has been held every two years since 2016 and is intended to better integrate naval defences and capabilities. This year’s exercise will include interaction between land and sea forces for the first time and utilize new combat air defense systems (High North News).
Take 2: The Arctic has often been regarded as a region of stability and low tension. But a stronger emphasis on the area as a security and defense priority has led many countries to reinforce their defensive capabilities and increase their military activity in the region. The Mjølner exercise is yet another in a series of allied exercises that have been stepped up due to heightened military tensions with Russia in the Arctic. This year’s exercise is notable in using newly acquired missiles on Danish ships and the Norwegian Army’s new mobile missile system. These new air defense systems demonstrate the strengthening of Allied Arctic operations, and a response to Russia’s own growing air capabilities. But this increased militarization of the Arctic has serious implications for the stability of the region. Greater military activity in the Arctic increases instability and raises the potential for confrontation. With the possibility of Sweden and Finland joining NATO, relations with Russia have become more tense than ever. Although it is important for countries to maintain their defense, nations should also work to mitigate the risks of conflict in the region through confidence-building measures, communications, and dialogue. (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Comparative Strategy, High North News)
Senior Arctic Officials Developing Plan to Continue Arctic Cooperation
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on May 10, US Coordinator for the Arctic Region James DeHart announced at the recent Arctic Frontiers conference that senior Arctic officials and diplomats are developing a plan to continue the work of the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council has been suspended since March following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, but the seven additional member countries have stated that they are committed to continuing its operation by working towards their common goals for the region. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 3: For nearly three decades, the Arctic Council has served as the principal forum for promoting cooperation and coordination among Arctic states, Indigenous communities, and other Arctic inhabitants. However, its suspension has hindered the ability of Arctic states to address critical issues such as environmental protection, maritime safety, and the welfare and development of inhabitants. The announcement made at Arctic Frontiers has significant implications since it illustrates that Arctic states recognize the urgent need to continue the council’s work. Yet, it also reveals the difficulties of Arctic cooperation without Russia, which constitutes a significant part of the region. Russia provides irreplaceable data on climate change, and without Russian partners or access, cooperation in Arctic science and monitoring systems is difficult. The deterioration of cooperation also concerns Indigenous peoples who have developed strong inter-community relations across borders. The continued distrust and exclusion of Russia will have severe long-term damage to this vital work in the Arctic, and the commitment of the seven other Arctic states to cooperation is crucial in resuming it. But, as governments consider a plan forward for cooperation, Arctic officials must also work to ensure that they do not undermine the Arctic Council as the premier forum for cooperation by reducing the possibility of collaboration with Russia in the future. (Arctic Council, The Arctic Institute, The Economist)
Quebec’s Regional Airfare Plan Excludes Nunavik Indigenous Communities
As reported by CBC News on May 6, Indigenous leaders have criticized the Quebec Regional Air Transport Plan for excluding many routes servicing northern Cree and Inuit communities in Nunavik. The plan as announced last month aims to reduce travel costs and stimulate economic growth by capping some regional airfares at $500 and investing $261 million over the next five years. However, many routes in Nunavik are not eligible despite the region having some of the highest airfares in the province (CBC News).
Take 4: Travel and tourism were some of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and public health measures resulted in a sharp decline in air travel, devastating regional and Indigenous-owned airlines. Since Indigenous communities are often in remote areas that rely on tourism for job security, the economic consequences of the pandemic have been extremely severe, seeing thousands lose their jobs. Proposals such as the Quebec Regional Air Transport Plan had the potential to significantly boost Indigenous communities in their economic recovery by increasing air travel and driving tourism in some of the areas most acutely affected by the pandemic. The plan’s exclusion of routes to these communities demonstrates the enduring structural barriers to participation Indigenous communities face in decision-making. Too often, national governments implement policies that have significant impacts on Indigenous communities without consulting them or collaborating on equal terms. By excluding or overlooking Indigenous communities from the process, governments perpetuate historical legacies of inequality. But with the Arctic changing rapidly, its governments are facing challenges far beyond the pandemic. As key stakeholders in the region, it is essential that Indigenous communities have a central role in making the difficult decisions that lie ahead. decisions. (Arctic Council, CBC News, Forbes)
Scientists to Test Renewable Energy Prototypes in Greenland
As reported by Nature on May 6, scientists from Dartmouth College will be testing prototypes of renewable energy technologies this month in Qaanaaq, the northernmost town in Greenland, in collaboration with Inuit hunter and researcher Toku Oshima. The project includes a prototype of a device that generates heat directly from wind and a window that traps solar heat. Both prototypes are intended to reduce heating costs. (Nature)
Take 5: These prototypes are distinguished from other renewable energy devices in how they have been designed specifically for the challenges of the Arctic environment. Climate change and carbon emissions are crucial issues for the Arctic, with the region warming three times faster than the rest of the world. But the Arctic’s harsh and extremely cold conditions mean that typical renewable energy solutions are unreliable or unable to operate effectively. Therefore, many Indigenous communities are forced to remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which harms community health as well as the environment. Due to the remoteness of many Arctic settlements, transporting fuel to these locations is also difficult and expensive. As a result, energy costs are a significant expense for many Indigenous communities. The prototypes in Qaanaaq and other research into Arctic energy sources have the potential to significantly change the current state of energy production in the region. These technological innovations are critical in aiding communities to reduce their fuel use, which will in turn help mitigate the environmental impacts on ecosystems, alleviate the burden of energy costs, and improve financial security. The initiative in Qaanaaq is a clear example of the importance of developing regional solutions through the collaboration of scientists and Indigenous communities. (Eye on the Arctic, US Department of Energy, World Wildlife Fund)