The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 29 August, 2022
The United States to Appoint Its First Ambassador for the Arctic
As reported by BBC News on August 27, the U.S. has announced that it will appoint its first Arctic ambassador in order to boost its diplomatic efforts amid increased Russian and Chinese presence in the region. The new appointee will engage with the other seven Arctic countries, including Russia as well as Indigenous groups and other stakeholders, to advance U.S. policy in the region. (BBC News)
Take 1: The significance of the Arctic for the U.S. is growing. The region is starting to dominate the political agenda due to escalating tensions with Russia, and the emergence of new prospects in the northern latitudes. With the recent introduction of the Arctic Commitment Act, a bipartisan bill seeking to improve Arctic security, U.S. interest in increasing the military presence in the Arctic has been made clear. The legislation also places an emphasis on rivalry with Russia in the High North, with one section demanding a plan for “eliminating the Russian monopoly on shipping in the Arctic region to enable an increased U.S. presence in the Arctic shipping domain.” As the Arctic warms faster than the rest of the world, opening up new trade routes, the U.S. is gearing up to compete in these new shipping opportunities. However, the interests, prosperity, and security of the U.S. could potentially be threatened by military conflicts in the Arctic. Therefore, the creation of the U.S.’s first-ever Arctic ambassador is a noteworthy move. With the ambassador’s responsibilities also including relations with Russia, the appointment may act as a mitigator of tensions and, to some extent, a step towards replacing the connections between two countries that formed within the now suspended Arctic Council. (Common Dreams, High North News, Strategic Blueprint for a Blue Arctic).
New Study: Greenland’s Melting Ice to Raise Global Sea Levels Considerably
As reported by The Guardian on August 29, new research published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows that Greenland’s ice loss is expected to result in a minimum 27 cm rise in worldwide sea levels regardless of what climate action is taken. The international team of scientists analyzed satellite measurements of ice losses to Greenland’s ice cap between 2000 and 2019 so that they could determine how far global warming has pushed the ice sheet away from an equilibrium where precipitation equals the amount of ice lost. (The Guardian)
Take 2: In Greenland, temperatures near 32°F (0°C) were unheard of until human-caused climate change took effect. The region has been warming at four times the global rate since the 1980s, making it inevitable that temperatures will exceed the melt threshold. The US National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that between July 15 and 18 alone, meltwater runoff in Greenland surged to nearly 6 billion tons per day. This is about 35% higher than usual for this time of summer. However, this latest study’s estimate of a 27 cm sea-level rise is in fact modest, as it does not account for all of the ways ice can be lost from the edges of the ice sheet. Nevertheless, the benefit of this research is that it offers a reliable estimate of the unavoidable rise in sea level. Even though it does not provide a timeframe for when the ice will disappear, the scientific consensus suggests this will happen rather fast, and certainly within the next century or two. And it will be very challenging to adjust to change that quickly while further major melting episodes continue to occur more intensely and frequently in the Arctic. (CNN, The Washington Post)
Russia Burns Gas into the Atmosphere Near the Finnish Border
As reported by Reuters on August 26, Russia is burning large volumes of natural gas near its border with Finland. An analysis by the energy consultancy company Rystad estimates the volume to amount to 4.34 million cubic meters per day, or around 0.5% of the EU’s daily gas demand needs. The huge gas flare was recorded on satellite images in Portovaya, where a compressor station of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline is located. (Reuters)
Take 3: Despite being economically unproductive and polluting, the practice of flaring is still used today during oil production because it is a reasonably safe way of disposing of the natural gas that is produced alongside oil extraction. It is considered to be more eco-friendly than releasing gas directly into the environment; compared to the CO2 emissions from flaring, methane from gas venting has a global warming potential that is about 80 times higher. But flaring still can be called an “environmental crime”, especially when the process involves a huge amount of gas. Black carbon -or soot- formed from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, is a significant greenhouse gas that converts solar radiation into heat. After CO2, black carbon is the second-largest contributor to atmospheric warming. According to research, roughly 40% of black carbon deposits in the Arctic each year originate from gas flaring emissions, accelerating Arctic melting and the warming of the region. This undoubtedly has implications for biodiversity in the area and its inhabitants. As a result, the problem of gas flaring pollution requires attention, although it will be challenging in the case of Russia. (DW, The World Bank)
Norwegian Company Reveals Its Plan to Drill in the Arctic Barents Sea
As reported by Reuters on August 29, Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP plans for exploration drilling of up to 15 oil and gas wells in 2023, including in the Arctic Barents Sea. According to the company’s Chief Executive, Karl Johnny Hersvik, drilling plans for near the Arctic Wisting field are also in discussion. (Reuters)
Take 4: The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) recently said that Norway’s oil companies must increase their exploration activities in remote regions such as the Arctic Barents Sea. Over 80 exploration wells have been drilled in these waters since 2011, but unsatisfactory outcomes have dampened oil companies’ enthusiasm for the area. However, as a result of the EU’s decision to gradually stop buying Russian fossils in response to the invasion of Ukraine, demand for Norwegian energy has surged, reviving interest in Norway’s Arctic resources once again. Already back in 2015, research found no climate-friendly scenario in which any oil or gas is drilled in the Arctic, meaning that reserves north of the Arctic Circle should remain in the ground. Another study found that to limit global warming temperatures below 1.5°C, 60% of oil and gas deposits must stay untouched. So why not include Arctic fossil fuel reserves in this percentage? Perhaps one answer is that in current challenging times, environmental changes in the Arctic are not felt as acutely as a threat to energy security. (Impakter, Reuters)
Iceland’s Wind Power Working Group Requests Public Feedback
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on August 30, Iceland’s wind power working group is inviting municipalities, non-profit organizations, and citizens to take part in a discussion on wind turbines. The working group, set up by the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate to examine wind power’s integration into the Icelandic power system, is seeking feedback to reach the broadest possible consensus on future development. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 5: Arctic renewable energy has the potential to have an influence on the whole world. In an era of global warming creating demand for environmentally friendly energy, wind power is seen as an excellent alternative. However, some stories of energy transformation are sometimes ignored. A notable example is that of the Norwegian Sámi reindeer herders, who assert that wind farms may alter reindeer migratory paths and make their customary pastures unusable. Concerns are being raised in Iceland as well, some of which are associated with the tourism sector: an industry providing 39% of Iceland’s annual export revenue. Even though Iceland is an ideal candidate for wind energy, opinions among Icelanders on the matter are divided. They are wary of potential dangers like possible icing, visual pollution, and bird mortality caused by collisions with wind turbine blades. Moreover, large areas of land are needed for wind power plants. Therefore, the development of wind energy in such Arctic regions implies the importance of a transparent and open dialogue with the public and other stakeholders to reach a consensus and avoid negative repercussions. (Arctic Today)