The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 19 February, 2024
Svalbard’s Longyearbyen Community Council Develops New Sustainable Transport Plan
As reported by High North News on February 21, the Longyearbyen Community Council is currently evaluating new recommendations for sustainable transport and logistics to address existing challenges by electrifying road traffic, improving public transport, promoting sustainable shipping and tourism, and adopting low-emission fuels. The Institute of Transport Economics was commissioned to provide the recommendations, producing a technical report focused on achieving sustainability, efficiency, and practicality in the Longyearbyen transport system. The initiative also aims to draw attention to the needs of Longyearbyen and exert pressure on upcoming national policies, including the upcoming National Transport Plan, to improve the livability and business development in the community. (High North News)
Take 1: The processing of recommendations for a new transport and logistics plan is a significant development for Longyearbyen and the wider Svalbard Archipelago, which suffers disproportionately from climate change. Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost permanently-inhabited community and is seeing the fastest rate of warming in the entire Arctic. The proposed measures are crucial in transitioning towards a more sustainable and less coal-dependent economy while enhancing key sectors of the local economy: shipping and tourism, which carry a significant and rising environmental footprint. As such, implementing these recommendations enables these sectors to thrive in environmentally responsible ways while benefiting the local community and economy. Since 2018, the mayor of Longyearbyen, Arild Olsen, has been pursuing an ambitious plan to transition Longyearbyen to a zero-emission energy supply, aiming to set a global example for adaptation and climate stewardship. Once concretized, the plan can serve as a model for sustainable development in the Arctic by demonstrating how local communities can adapt to environmental change while fostering economic growth and societal well-being. Moreover, this also highlights the broader challenges of Arctic development, including logistical difficulties for remote areas and the need for innovative solutions. As such, this development is not only of local significance but highlights the need for and role that Arctic communities can play in implementing sustainable practices to help mitigate the effects of climate change. (High North News, Science Direct, Wired)
Sanctions Stall Novatek’s Arctic LNG Hub: New Storage Tanker Left Idle
On February 20, The Barents Observer reported that Novatek’s 400-meter-long storage tanker, the Saam FSU, remains unused six months after its arrival at Ura-Guba, a transhipment terminal in the Barents Sea. The reasons for this include international sanctions and delays in the Arctic LNG 2 project. Initially intended as a reloading base for Novatek’s LNG operations, the purpose-built floating storage unit (FSU) is caught in the crosshairs of US sanctions targeting Russian energy companies and their subsidiaries, including Novatek and the operator of the Saam and a sister ship in Kamchatka, the Koriak FSU. (The Barents Observer)
Take 2: While Russia is trying to raise its profile in the Arctic region, the immobilization of the Saam FSU encapsulates the broader challenges Russia is facing in its attempts to assert energy dominance in the Arctic. Despite ongoing support from China, the West continues to have significant leverage over Russia and is capable of curbing its Arctic ambitions by delaying the roll-out of its Arctic LNG plants – Arctic LNG 2 has had to postpone shipments, for instance – and now rendering important assets inoperable. The Arctic is central to Russia’s strategy to anchor itself as a leading global energy supplier, given the region’s rich hydrocarbon resources. It represents a new frontier for Russian energy exports, with a particular emphasis on liquefied natural gas.While Russia has been cleverly circumventing sanctions on exports, the operational constraints imposed on the tankers paired with the sanctions on LNG terminals constitute a weak point for the Kremlin. This subsequently disrupts the logistical chain necessary for maximizing the export capabilities of Russia’s Arctic LNG projects. This disruption not only hampers Russia’s ability to fully capitalize on Arctic resources but can also affect its strategic positioning in global energy markets. The exit of important investors, including Japan’s consortium JOGMEC, China’s state-owned CNOOC and National Petroleum Corp and France’s TotalEnergies, demonstrate that Russia is experiencing difficulties with counterbalancing Western influence over global technological and financial networks, facing the task of securing new buyers, for which Novatek recently established a sales office in China. (Euractiv, High North News, Reuters)
The Annual Kirkenes Conference Took Place on February 21-22
High North News reported on February 21 that the Kirkenes Conference 2024, opened by the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, focuses on geopolitical shifts in the Arctic and evolving border conditions, particularly on the cessation of Norwegian-Russian cooperation. This year’s Conference featured a diverse agenda, including perspectives on Norwegian-Finnish and Norwegian-Swedish relations, a panel of diplomats from the EU, US, UK, and Germany, together with Norwegian State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson, and discussions by local mayors on changing dynamics with Russia. The conference also covered topics such as energy, the green transition, business, and community development in the North. (High North News)
Take 3: The Kirkenes Conference is an annual event held in the Norwegian town Kirkenes, located at the juncture of Norwegian, Russian and Finnish borders. The first Kirkenes Conference was organized back in 2008 and the annual event has since become a critical platform for dialogue on Arctic issues by connecting policymakers, researchers, local communities and business leaders from across the Nordics. The conferences emphasize the strategic importance of the Arctic region in geopolitics, economic and social development, and environmental stewardship and bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Arctic governance. This year’s conference took place in the context of the looming two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, with many locals worried about a potential escalation. Over the two days, discussion topics included new Arctic relations, evaluating the Euro-Russian border, business challenges and neighborly relations. Russia was thus a central topic during the conference, which happened straight after the Munich Security Conference where the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, announced major investments in the Norwegian Armed Forces. At the conference, however, Støre expressed his hopes for renewed cooperation with Russia when it would return to the international stage as a “reliable partner”, introducing a nuanced layer to the conference’s discourse. This effectively juxtaposes the immediate challenges and geopolitical complexities with a long-term pragmatic vision for peace and collaboration, which is crucial in navigating the future of the Arctic region. (Eye On The Arctic, The Barents Observer)
Japan Takes a Leap Forward in Arctic Exploration With New Research Vessel
The Japan Times reported on February 22 that Japan’s Science Minister Masahito Moriyama announced the name of Japan’s first Arctic research vessel. The name “Mirai II” was chosen from over 7,000 public suggestions. The vessel is being constructed by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and is expected to be completed by the fiscal year 2026. Mirai II will aim to enhance Arctic Ocean research by overcoming the limitations of the oceanographic research vessel “Mirai”, which is unable to navigate through ice. The 128-meter-long vessel, designed to break through ice up to 1.2 meters thick, will be equipped with advanced research and observation tools, including a weather radar, and will serve as a base for underwater drones. (The Japan Times)
Take 4: The construction of the Mirai II constitutes a significant advancement in Japan’s Arctic presence and research capabilities. This vessel will not only facilitate broader scientific investigations but also aligns with Japan’s strategic interests in the region. Japan first formulated an Arctic policy back in 2015 to study the dynamics of climate change in the Arctic Ocean. Mirai II is set to enhance Japan’s contribution to climate research and foster international scientific collaboration. Concurrently, Japan has initiated Arctic Research Bursaries with the United Kingdom for 2024-2025, further emphasizing its commitment to Arctic studies. Beyond research, Japan’s interests extend to Arctic shipping routes, submarine connectivity, and natural resource extraction. This interest was manifested in the joint EU-Japan initiative to deploy submarine cables in the Arctic and Mitsui‘s investment in Russia’s Arctic LNG projects. However, Mitsui has recently retracted its investments due to escalating sanctions. Japan is only one of many non-Arctic states that are seeking to increase their Arctic presence, such as India, China, and South Korea. This is challenging the traditional governance models that have prioritized the sovereignty and interests of the Arctic states and prompts a re-evaluation of how the Arctic is governed and who should get to participate in decision-making processes. While the presence of non-Arctic states like Japan can bring additional resources, attention and cooperation on pressing issues and sustainable development, it also introduces new dynamics of competition, environmental concerns and challenges to Indigenous communities that should not be disregarded. (Arctic Office, BNN Breaking, Government of Japan, Mobile Europe, The Japan Times)
Deadline Extended for N.W.T. Athletes’ Passports Ahead of Arctic Winter Games
As reported by CBC News on February 20, athletes hailing from Canada’s Northwest Territories have been granted additional time to submit their passport information for the Arctic Winter Games, which are to be held in Alaska from March 10-16. It is the third time so far that Sport North has adjusted the deadline, now allowing submissions up until the day before travel. The decision aims to support athletes from remote communities who experience difficulties in accessing passport services since thirty N.W.T. athletes were still without passports earlier in February. (CBC News)
Take 5: The extension of the passport submission deadline for participants coming from Canada’s Northwest Territories in the Arctic Winter Games highlights a broader issue facing Indigenous Arctic communities: limited access to essential services. The fact that thirty athletes were without passports mere weeks ago underscore the logistical and systemic hurdles faced by individuals in remote Arctic regions. Such barriers not only increase isolation but also hinder participation in significant cultural and sporting events, such as these Winter Games. Beyond passport services, healthcare, education, and administrative support are similarly difficult to access, compounded by transportation, language, and cultural obstacles. While the deadline was extended to accommodate the athletes, this is only a temporary fix for a much larger systemic issue, emphasizing the need for more accessible services throughout the Arctic region. While some participants could afford flying to a more urbanized area to fix their passport problems, not everyone can afford to do so. The financial burden of accessing such basic services can thus be prohibitive and widen the divide between rich and poor. There is a clear need for more accessible government services and mobile units, digital options or more local offices could help address this. Adopting inclusive practices is essential to overcome the geographical and logistical challenges faced by remote Arctic communities. (CBC News, National Library of Medicine, Nature, UNDP)