Rapidly changing climate has brought numerous changes in the
geophysical architecture of the World. While the Republic of Marshall Islands
in West Pacific Islands is threatened by submersion, steadily depleting snow
cover of the Arctic Circle opened a new Pandora box. Arctic which was inaccessible a decade ago has
become a relatively busy navigation route during summer months. The thick floes
of snow and ice islands which cut off the enormous territory of 21 million
square kilometres between North Pole and Arctic Circle was of strategic
importance to navies of both the US and the Soviet during cold war since their
submarines could conveniently hide under the thick ice shield. This huge area which
remained pristine for eons and conflict-free is now poised to portend real
conflict.
Arctic nations are not solely defined by latitude but
comprise all the nations in the northern region whose median temperature is 50
F or less in the month of July. These include: Canada, Denmark (Greenland and
Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and
the United States (Alaska). The region might turn into Zone of potential
conflict if divisive competition for resources takes an upper hand over the awe
inspiring beauty of this unexplored territory. So, Arctic Council, a multinational organisation
was setup by Canada in 1996 to deal with the environmental concerns of this
region.
When it comes to navigation opening up of the Northern sea
during the summers for the cargo ships immensely reduces the distance, shipping
and fuel costs from Atlantic to Pacific and from Europe or east coast of the
North America to East Asia besides cutting down the Carbon dioxide emissions.
While there are huge benefits, the four million inhabitants of the Arctic Circle
have to pay price for the development. Within the Arctic Council tension is
brewing up due to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Seven out of eight nations are
democracies and NATO members and the Russian federation which has largest stake
in the region should work harmoniously to ensure critical development in the
region instead of turning into a Zone of Conflict. In 1867, Russia sold Alaska
to United States for five cents an acre as it believed that it was parting with
just a lump of ice. Now the same country is laying claims on the vast swathes
of sea bed that may yield riches.
As per the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Law
of Sea (UNCLOS), an area of 200 nautical miles from the continental shelf can
be claimed by respective countries as their Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). Countries
which ratified under the UNCLOS before 13th May 1999 have ten years
to claim any extension of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, so
long as the extension was no more than 100 miles from the point at which sea
reached 2.5 km and no more than 350 miles from land. All claims are to be
substantiated with copious amount of scientific evidence to prove that sea bed
in question is indeed continental shelf. If the claim passes the tests,
countries can exploit the mineral wealth as long as they share the revenue with
landlocked and poorer nations. Russia was the first nation to make such claim
in 2001 and six years later it planted its titanium flag on a seabed 4km below
the North Pole.
Under these provisions China and South Korea are at odd over
parts of East China Sea. China has claimed large parts of East China Sea which
include the Spartlys, an island claimed by Malaysia, The Philippines and
Vietnam. Canada couldn’t ratify the treaty till 2003 and submitted its claim by
2013, Denmark had time till 2014 and US has no deadline since it didn’t ratify.
Five major countries are eyeing on the rich treasure of the Arctic bed-The US,
Demark, Canada, Norway and Russia. (Iceland has a very small claim in Arctic
Circle). There is a stiff competition among these nations over North Pole. All
these claims are submitted to the Commission on the Limits of Continental
Shelf, the final authority which verifies the authenticity of the claim
scientifically.
Recently Denmark staked claim to the North Pole indicating
that 900,000 square kilometres of the Arctic Ocean North of Greenland belongs
to it. It is based on the scientific evidence that Lomonosov Bridge that
bisects the Arctic starts in Greenland. (Greenland is self-governing part of
Denmark). But intellectuals are optimistic that competition over developing the
resources would be gentlemanly as mining in such harsh conditions would be very
expensive and falling oil prices would deter countries from exploring this
region. But reasons for cooperation seem to be least likely with nations
scoffing at Russia for its aggressive stance towards Crimea and meddling with
Ukraine. Russia this summer has recently carried our extensive combat exercises
post Cold war in the Arctic region. It re-equipped its old bases and recently
test fired a new generation rocket Angara from its cosmodrome in the North.
Arctic temperature has been steadily increasing due to global
warming and sea-ice has been shrinking at an alarmingly faster rate. Temperatures
in Arctic region are raising twice the rate of rest of the earth. Recent
projections indicate that by 2030 the region will have ice-free summers. The
recent surge of interest in Arctic Circle is fall out of the climate change. The
consequences of Arctic melt down extend far beyond the shipping routes. This region
is estimated to harbour about 30% of untapped natural gas and 13% of global
crude oil. It is also rich in minerals like Nickel, Copper, iron ore and rare
earths used in electronic goods. If nations strive to retain this region as
Zone of cooperation through diplomacy and coordination, all of them can accrue
more benefits else it might potentially emerge as a new Zone of Conflict.
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