Environmental Security in the Arctic Ocean

by Berkman, Paul Arthur; Vylegzhanin, Alexander N.

• ISBN13: 9789400747128
• ISBN10: 9400747128
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-11-26
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This book emerged from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop at the University of Cambridge with Russian co-directorship, enabling the first formal dialogue between NATO and Russia regarding security issues in the Arctic Ocean. Involving broad international, interdisciplinary and inclusive participation this workshop itself reflects progress with the system of Arctic cooperation and collaboration that has been emerging since the end of the Cold War. Interests now are awakening globally to take advantage of extensive energy, shipping, fishing and tourism opportunities associated with diminishing sea-ice in the Arctic Ocean. This environmental state-change also is introducing inherent risks of political, economic and cultural instabilities. Responding with urgency, environmental security is presented as an integrated approach for assessing and responding to the risks as well as the opportunities generated by an environmental state-change. Building on the common arctic issues of sustainable development and environmental protection established by the Arctic Council environmental security offers an holistic context to assess opportunities, risks and infrastructure responses with law of the sea as the key international legal framework to promote the peaceful uses of the Arctic Ocean. With vision for future generations, environmental security is a path to balance national interests and common interests for the lasting benefit of all.