- Details
- Written by: ofurpaur
- Category: The Arctic
- Hits: 3242
This section explores some key-features related with the Law of the Sea and the Arctic region.
As the Arctic region consists of a large Ocean surrounded by land, the Law of the Sea and its applications become particularly relevant in this context.
The main legal instrument regulating use of seas and oceans, and their resources, by States is the 1982 United Nation Convention on Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), which clarifies rights and responsibilities of States and addresses issues as navigational rights, territorial sea limits, economic jurisdiction, legal status of resources on the seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, passage of ships through narrow straits, conservation and management of living marine resources, protection of the marine environment, a marine research regime binding procedure for settlement of disputes between State, to name but a few.
Another key legal instrument will be the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) and related amendments under both the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The Polar Code and SOLAS amendments were adopted during the 94th session of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), in November 2014; the environmental provisions and MARPOL amendments were adopted during the 68th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in May 2015, and they are expected to enter into force on January 1, 2017. The Polar Code and related amendments will regulate shipping in Polar waters (both Arctic and Antarctic), with the main focus on safety of shipping and protection for the pristine environment.
- Details
- Written by: ofurpaur
- Category: The Arctic
- Hits: 3899
Only about 15% of Sweden territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle. It has no Arctic coastal line, making the climate rather moderate. The tree line goes well above the Swedish northern border forming one of the greatest forest areas in all Europe.
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for almost two centuries. An armed neutrality is one of the features the Swedes are very proud of and have preserved through both world wars and the cold war period.
Sweden hosts a Sami population of 20 000, many of them living in some of the 51 Sami villages found in the country. The Sami were recognized as indigenous peoples by the Swedish government in 1977 and the Sami Parliament was established in 1993.
Despite being an active member of the Arctic Council, Sweden is not very Arctic state. Swedish explorer Nils Nordenskjold was the first to complete a voyage through the Northeast Passage, but since his days there has not been too much of interest in the Arctic regions.
Sweden published it's Arctic strategy in May 2011, last of the 8 Arctic states, and acts currently as a chair in the Arctic Council.
Source: CIA World Factbook
- Details
- Written by: ofurpaur
- Category: The Arctic
- Hits: 2092
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. From the 16th century until the establishment of the Soviet Union in 1917, Russia was a Tsardom, with many historical leaders.
During the Cold War period The Soviet Union and the US participated in extensive arms race, the Arctic becoming one of the main playgrounds for nuclear submarines.
Due to this frozen political atmosphere, the Arctic research and tourism were minimal up until the 1990's when General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism and end the east-west confrontation.
His initiatives gradually released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent republics.
A country of gargantuan proportions, Russia's borders extend from Europe to Asia. With as its capital Moscow, this vast land is home to some 150 million people, out of which less than 1 % are of indigenous origin.
In the Arctic context, Russia is perhaps one of the most significant influences, playing a key role both in Arctic oil and gas development as well as in Arctic Shipping.
It is estimated that vast amounts of the Arctic undiscovered petroleum reserves are situated on the Russian continental shelf. In addition, it looks that the Northeast Passage has more potential to become the main Arctic shipping route from Asia to Europe due to the sea ice retrieval and open ice conditions over the summer months.
Sources: CIA World Factbook
- Details
- Written by: ofurpaur
- Category: The Arctic
- Hits: 2376
The mountainous Norway is bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean and lies at approximately the same latitude as Alaska, and is thus subjected to an oceanic polar climate.
About one-third of its lands lie beyond the 66th Parallel, including its northern extremity, Jan Mayen Island and the Svalbard Archipelago.
Officially annexed to the Norwegian territory in 1929, Jan Mayen Island was discovered more than 400 years ago by Dutch whalers. Measuring only 377 km2, it is in fact a volcano that emerged from the Arctic Ocean several thousand years ago.
Virtually uninhabited, it is used as a meteorological base for Norway, which has possessed installations there since 1921.
The Svalbard Archipelago, on the other hand, is a region of complex politics. Although under the administration of Norway since 1920, its islands can be freely inhabited and occupied by other nations.
With its 61,022 km2, the Archipelago is covered in the vast majority by ice, and ranks among the most northerly lands of the planet. Barely 3,000 souls live here, mainly on coal mining, fishing and scientific research.
Norway plays a particularly important role in the Arctic, as it is the guardian of several important access seaways. Furthermore, the Norwegian Polar Institute has earned international recognition on scientific research on polar territories.
Favoring the economic and social development of its Arctic islands, this Scandinavian country nevertheless is prepared for all eventualities and specially trains its army for any confrontations which might arise in the Arctic.
Norwegian Roald Amundsen navigated the Northwest Passage, Fridtjof Nansen explored Greenland, and Otto Sverdrup discovered islands in the Canadian Arctic - which he claimed for Norway and then sold back to Canada.
Today, Norway hosts the Arctic Council secretariat in Tromsø as well as many other international Arctic institutions secretariats, including APECS and CliC project Office.
Sources: Arctic Territory CIA World Factbook Framsenteret
- Details
- Written by: ofurpaur
- Category: The Arctic
- Hits: 2507
Only a small portion of Iceland is within the Arctic Circle. Actually the Arctic area is only a few hundred square meters in Grímsey, the northernmost island of Iceland. However, the country is within the Arctic according to all political defined boundaries, making it the only purely Arctic state.
Iceland bears a cold climate and the freezing temperature go easily down to -20 degrees in the winter. The summers are mild, the July mean being around +10°c.
The population is just over 300.000 and the country relies heavily on fish and aluminum export. Due to cheap energy the country has alerted big companies for production that requires significant amounts of energy. The latest trend has been aluminum smelters that can be found both in the East cost as well as in the South-West corner of Iceland.
Iceland is closely related to numerous Arctic issues. It is rich in natural energy resources and even has potential oil fields north of Iceland, in the Dreki area. It has strong Arctic research entities connected to the University of Akureyri in North Iceland and hosts the secretariats for both CAFF and PAME, the working groups of the Arctic Council. One of the main achievements so far has been the the Arctic Human Development Report that was published during Iceland's chairmanship in Arctic Council 2002-2004.
Iceland is also looking to benefit from increased shipping in the Arctic. Possible oil refineries in the Westfjords of Iceland have been mentioned and could be a feasible location because of the highly developed infrastructure in the country.
In addition, as soon as Greenlandic petroleum resource exploitation begins on full speed will Iceland be one of the most likely service centers for East-Greenland exploration due to the short distance between countries and already existing infrastructure in Northern Iceland.
The country is also hoping to be the center of shipping through a hub-port, possibly in the eastern part of Iceland.
Again the infrastructure in the country has many benefits, ahead of other locations such as Kirkenes in Norway.
Source: CIA World Factbook