Pan Arctic Forum

CBC News published an article titled, “What does China’s new Arctic policy mean for Canada?” The article reads in part as follows;

“On Friday, China released a white paper describing its Arctic policy in a rare public move.

The policy outlines plans to develop shipping routes, expand its research programs, pursue environmental protection and develop resources across the Arctic.

“I’m a little shocked,” said University of Calgary associate professor Robert Huebert.

“The Chinese do not issue white papers. This clearly illustrated how important the Arctic is to the Chinese.”

Global Times published an article titled, “In Times of Trouble, Hard Work Keeps the Arctic Stable” The article reads in part as follows;

“Arctic tourism is an emerging industry, and China is a source of tourists to the Arctic. China supports and encourages its enterprises to cooperate with Arctic States in developing tourism in the region, and calls for continuous efforts to enhance security, insurance, and rescue systems to ensure the safety of tourists in the Arctic. China conducts training for and regulates Chinese tourism agencies and professionals involved in Arctic tourism, and endeavors to raise the environmental awareness of Chinese tourists. China advocates low-carbon tourism, ecotourism, and responsible tourism, and hopes to contribute to the sustainable development of Arctic tourism.

The Independent Barents Observer published an article titled, “In Times of Trouble, Hard Work Keeps the Arctic Stable” The article reads in part as follows;

“We should not be naive, because there are developments also in our region that we have to be mindful of,” Eriksen Søreide underscored in the panel debate at Arctic Frontiers. The conference is likely the world’s largest gathering on northern policy, economics and science developments with about 3,000 participants in Tromsø this week.

Unlike previous Arctic Frontiers sessions, hard talks on the more tense relations with Russia were openly discussed on stage.

Nature published an article titled, “Protect The High Seas From Harm” The article reads in part as follows;

“In a rare diplomatic breakthrough — and good news for marine scientists and conservationists around the world — nations agreed in 2016 to protect a huge area of ocean off the coast of Antarctica from commercial fishing and other harmful activities. That success came only after years of failed discussions. It was followed by another positive step: in December, Arctic Council countries decided not to fish industrially in the Arctic Sea.

The Revelator published an article titled, “As the Arctic Melts, Nations Race to Own What’s Left Behind” The article reads in part as follows;

“Geopolitics in the Arctic are quickly becoming incompatible with the physical and social realities of the region.

According to NASA, the average amount of Arctic sea ice present after the summer melting season has shrunk by 40 percent since 1980. Winter sea ice has also been at record lows.

As melting ice frees up once-inaccessible sections of the frozen Arctic Ocean, the seven nations around it will have to negotiate new borders — a series of decisions that has the potential to alter the Arctic landscape and make life harder for its people and wildlife.