Green Options » northwest passage

Northwest Passage; Myth or Reality?

Amiel Blajchman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:31:44 +0000

This year, for the first time in years, the Holy Grail of northern shipping will be a reality for a few weeks. With a Europe to Asia transit length that is 5000 nautical miles shorter than that of the Panama Canal (as well as deeper and wider, therefore accommodating super-tankers too big for the Panama Canal); the opening of the Northwest Passage may signal the start to a sovereignty fight in the Arctic that has nothing to do with oil, gas, or any other kind of mineral exploration.

Arctic Resource Rush Holds Nuclear Risks

Shirley Siluk Gregory — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:12:00 +0000

Here’s a scary revelation: while climate change has, for the first time in recorded history, opened up the Northwest Passage and sparked a new land/fossil fuel/resource rush in the Arctic, it might also increase the risk of nuclear contamination in the region. A report in the March/April issue of Foreign Affairs notes that, “Between 1958 and 1992, Russia dumped 18 nuclear reactors into the Arctic Ocean, several of them still fully loaded with nuclear fuel.”

Global Warming Causes Arctic Land Grab To Intensify

Michael dEstries — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:49:49 +0000

Think the Arctic is a sovereign landmass neutral to any particular country or organization? Think again. With Global Warming speeding up ice melt in the region, a massive competitive land grab is heating up between countries all over the world eager to get access to the riches that may become available. What's the number one resource everyone is eager to tap into? Well, oil of course.

It is estimated by scientists that nearly 25% of the world's undiscovered gas and oil reserves may be in the Arctic. With warming seas making the idea of a Northwest Passage for shipping lanes a reality, the enticement of setting up rigs and scooping resources is causing countries to get out and make claims. Canada, Russia, Denmark, and the United States are all shouting "Mine! Mine!". Oil aside, fishing companies are also eager to start tapping into the region, which could spell disaster for stocks in the region.

So, what does this mean? Well, to put it simply, in the face of climate change and environmental collapse, there's always a buck to be made. Opening up the Arctic, a pristine environmental area relatively untouched to human exploitation, could destroy a great deal of life. As the article states, "Apart from the risk of oil spills, more vessels could carry alien organisms into the Northwest Passage, posing a risk to indigenous life forms."

Let's also not forget the native people who actually live in these Arctic areas and depend on the natural environment for survival. Groups like the Inuits and the Sami may be directly affected in ways that could prove disastrous for their way of life. It's a sad fact that world governments may see the dollar signs of a possible ice-free Arctic, before they see the advantages of preventing such a loss. Hit the excellent article for an in-depth report on this particular situation.