1.11 Making Connections

THE ARCTIC AND THE FUTURE OF A GLOBAL COMMONS

Background: According to a 2008 United States Geological Survey report, the Arctic has 90 billion barrels of oil—13% of the undiscovered oil in the world. Now, evidence suggests that warming in the Arctic has already resulted in earlier break-up of ice in the spring and thinner ice year round. Computer models further suggest that by 2080 Arctic sea ice will completely disappear during the summer months. Ironically, the disappearance of ice will make exploration of oil resources in the Arctic more feasible, while the burning of oil and other fossil fuels have been blamed for the loss of ice in the first place.

As temperatures increase and sea ice declines, many arctic species will find it difficult to survive. Meanwhile, the need to build a massive infrastructure for oil drilling will impact ecologically intact areas. And a single oil spill can have serious impacts, especially given that there is no effective method for containing and cleaning up an oil spill in ice conditions.

Although no country owns the North Pole, there is growing concern among the Inuit that new measures are needed to preserve and sustainably use the Arctic’s resources. Though not opposed to development, the Inuit want to ensure that their communities benefit without compromising the environment.

Case: The Inuit have selected you to help them develop a vision for the future of the Arctic. Based on your research and analysis, write a position paper on how Arctic resources should be utilized and how this region should be governed to ensure sustainability and consideration of the “triple-bottom line.”

In your report include the following:

  1. An assessment of the importance of the Arctic region as a global commons and the challenges of governing it as such.
  2. An analysis of how the situation in the Arctic presents a “wicked problem.”
  3. A discussion of how we can prevent “ecocide” in the Arctic—specific strategies to minimize self-inflicted environmental damage, appropriately respond to ongoing environmental changes, and ensure global cooperation to sustainably utilize resources in the Arctic.
  4. The potential challenges to developing and implementing a sustainable Arctic policy and how these challenges could be addressed.