Explore 'Arctic Affairs' for comprehensive coverage of the rapidly changing Arctic. We analyze climate change impacts, geopolitical shifts, indigenous rights,...
The Arctic region is the area around the North Pole, encompassing parts of eight countries (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States) and the Arctic Ocean.
The Arctic is crucial for global climate regulation, hosts unique ecosystems, holds significant natural resources, and is becoming strategically important for new shipping routes and geopolitics.
Climate change causes rapid warming, leading to melting sea ice and glaciers, permafrost thaw, rising sea levels, and significant impacts on wildlife, indigenous communities, and global weather patterns.
Approximately four million people live in the Arctic, including numerous indigenous communities like the Inuit, Sami, and Nenets, whose cultures and livelihoods are deeply connected to the environment.
Interests include resource extraction (oil, gas, minerals), control over new shipping routes (e.g., Northern Sea Route), scientific research, and national sovereignty claims among Arctic states.