Arctic Council

Crossroads of the Arctic Council? When the Arctic Council was established in 1996 it was designed to bring together the states bordering the Arctic Ocean on issues related to environmental protection and sustainability. The organization does not address military issues in the region, which allows it to be one of the few international organizations in which both the U.S. and Russia will cooperate. However, I argue that there will be a change in the progression of this council in the next few years as the ocean continues to melt and ships are better able to access the region. They will either expand their agenda to include security issues in the region or they will continue with their current level of involvement. I intend to answer what impact…

The Arctic is a region at the top of the globe consisting of Canada, the United States of America, Finland, Denmark (Greenland), Russia, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway. These countries form the Arctic council and are responsible for protecting and managing the affairs within the Arctic. The main reason that there is a Council is because it makes progress in the Arctic more productive and it is easier to manage the Arctic when there is a specific body set up to manage the Arctic. When all of the…

The Arctic Circle in recent years has been the source of international conflict as natural resources are discovered and climate change is impacting the indigenous people, wildlife, and changing the arctic environment. The current governing body, the Arctic Council, and global agreements and treaties are not adequately protecting the Arctic environment. After examining the various conventions and treaties that have been made in effort to govern the Arctic Circle, it is evident that some…

the Arctic Ocean has been famed for its inaccessibility, but with unprecedented ice retreats in recent years as a result of global warming, the Arctic Ocean is becoming rapidly accessible. This means new possibilities for the Arctic countries in terms of trade, travel, and access resources. These recent changes in the topography have led many to portray the Arctic as a geopolitical race for natural resources and territory, with Russia seen as the main aggressor. Russia is depicted as a…

According to the 2014 Arctic Report Card, there have been significant changes in sea ice extent. Specifically, the report addresses the slow but significant seasonal decline in sea ice cover. Arctic sea ice is of utmost importance for ecosystems to thrive. Post et al. (2013) discuss this further, stating “the sea-ice biome influences the abundance, distribution, seasonality, and interactions of marine and terrestrial species.” This is especially true for polar bear populations in the Arctic, as…

mammals, migratory birds, insects and fish (Whitney, 2002). The majority of the animals have developed adaptations to the extreme weather conditions by breeding in the winter and raising the young in the summer (Bioexpedition, 2015). Additionally, the majority of the mammals and birds have developed additional insulation through fat, which remains instrumental in the provision of heat during the cold period. Some of the animals including birds, reptiles and amphibians have adopted the…

Nikki Anderson GRIZZLY BEAR Ursus arctos horribilis Habitat- Grizzly bears are found in many different habitats, from dense forests to subalpine meadows, open plains and arctic tundra. In North America, grizzly bears are found in western Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and a potentially a small population in Washington. Historically, they could be found from Alaska to Mexico and from California to Ohio. The grizzly bear was once…

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere and partially in the Southern Hemisphere. Bears are found on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Common characteristics of modern bears include large bodies with…

For many years people believed that the Polar Bear would be the first species that goes extinct due to climate change, however that may not be the case. The American Pika lives in the rocky mountain areas surrounding both the U.S and Canada. This distant cousin of the rabbit lives at elevations between 8,000 and 13,000 feet, and it makes its home in rock piles and slides. The reason why this creature suffers so much due to climate change is that of how they originally adapted to their…

causing the ice to melt. 2. Identify the social, economic, cultural, and political or ecological components of selected issue. - The social component in the selected issue is that the communities are using chemicals and polluting the air that can cause this issue. People had a lack of education about negative impacts of the use of chemical and polluting the air like burning fossil fuels in the past that have a part in the result of climate change. People value the environment for economic…