Artic

• 9 billion tonnes of oil - 25% of world's gas and oil there
• Floating sea ice - 2m thick in 2012
• 2 weeks faster Europe to Asia using Northern Sea route rather than Suez Canal way
• Countries with claims:

  • Sweden, USA, Canada, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland
• Russia used submarine to place a flag on the sea bed in an area not in their territory
• "Scientific" expeditions have increased to increase countries' presence in the region
• Both Russia + Canada have dedicated Artic forces
• Finland joined NATO
• Future:

  • Business as ususal: carry on like before, people manage their own fish and terriroty disputes solved through UNCLOS
• UNCLOS = United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
• Future:

  • Artic Framework - intergovernmental forum for artic governments and ingenious population. Hard to police
• Future:

  • Artic global sancturary - Greenpeace idea of leaving it as it is and not extracting oil and fish.
• Trump inquired about buying greenland from Denmark and keeps talking about having Canada as a 51st state
• Trump when he won 2024 election said he will "Drill baby drill" and pull out of Paris accord again