Module 2.2 Discussion Topic

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Module 2 Discussion Topic: Climate Change and the Arctic- Stacey Donovan The Arctic touches the coastlines of the US, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Denmark (Greenland) (The Emerging Arctic, 2014) are affected by the thawing of the ice caps, and the human consequences of the expansions currently and possible in the future. The expansion is something that on the surface looks promising the Arctic holds a quarter of the Earth’s undiscovered recoverable petroleum that is in the Arctic region as recorded in the Circum-Arctic Resources Appraisal by the U.S Geological Survey (2008). This alone makes it a positive solution globally largely due to the supply and demand is high. Therefore, I see why as a global village it a great idea would be to expand and extract however when furthering the understanding of the impacts of such expansion I am against the expansion. The consequences of furthering human interaction and disruption within the ecosystems of the Arctic will have vast foreseeable consequences to our day to day lives presently and for the future of our planet and generations of our human race. The reason that the Arctic is a place of prospect is largely due to the human need for petroleum. The result of this need drives the human race to continue seeking it out and extracting it for the gain of man. It is documented that one-quarter of the earth’s undiscovered recoverable petroleum that is in the Arctic region as recorded in the Circum-Arctic Resources Appraisal by the U.S Geological Survey (2008). With the sheer need for the resources, I find to be in conflict with my own feelings about the ways in which we expand. For example, petroleum is used in so many things I use every day. Am I allowed to say that an expansion is wrong however in the next moment I am using things that directly require the demand for such a prospect of expansion? Despite my conflict of emotions, I am against the expansion within the Arctic and areas. The environmental consequences are irreversible and substantial for example, the thawing of the ice cap over a span of seven years being about 40% showcases major changes to the ice caps and the surrounding sea. Furthermore, it was the largest melt in the past three decades of observable and considered unmatched in human history (The Emerging Arctic, 2014). This large thaw begins with the erosion of the Arctic coastlines, adds to the loss of the ices begins warming of the Northern Hemisphere, and effectively changing the global weather patterns (The Emerging Arctic, 2014). The expansions into the arctic will increase the transportation of goods through the key marine routes with

this inevitable change will bring forth increased emissions, people, and further disruptions of natural ecosystems. The influences within the food security are of great concern; specifically, with the traditional foods such as seal, polar bear, caribou, fish, and birds that will be compromised due to climate warming and reduction of ice. In addition to the loss of hunting and climate changes that will undoubtedly affect wildlife herds thereby directly affecting the human food supply again. The human health concerns will rise due to changes to the Arctic people’s regular diet and shifting into a western diet. Furthermore, a great impact directly related to thawing permafrost on the infrastructure of sanitation will lead to a vast number of challenges (Hassol, Susan Joy, 2004). All of this is happening without the expansion, for me the question of what happens if we expand in the Arctic without the infrastructure available to sustain expansion, in addition to the permafrost melting, and, with the decreasing stability of food security due to ice melting. Then adding the potential oil spills and the environmental fallout and expense are the many reasons I simply am against the whole idea of pushing the Arctic any more than the human race already has. References Hassol, Susan Joy. ACIA, 2004. Impacts of a Warming Arctic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. ACIA Overview report. Cambridge University Press. 140 pp. Hassol, S. J. (2004). Key finding 10: Multiple influences interact to cause impacts to people and ecosystems. Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.

Henderson, J. & Low, J. S. P. (2014, Nov. 4). The prospects and challenges for arctic oil development. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (WPN 54). The Economist. (2012, June 16). The melting north. The Emerging Arctic. 2014. Council of Foreign Relations. A CFR InfoGuide Presentation Retrieved from (website) https://www.cfr.org/emerging- arctic/#!/32620

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