OSLO — Rising temperatures are causing the Arctic’s ice sheets to melt, opening the door for an economic boom in the region but also posing a major threat to the survival of its indigenous peoples. more »

An environmental group announced today that it is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for “failing to consider” the affect of pesticides on polar bears and their Arctic habitat. more »

A bid to rename the Northwest Passage the “Canadian Northwest Passage” has passed in the House of Commons, an outcome which surprised many after Inuit leaders and opposition MPs were adamant that not enough input had been received from the arctic aboriginal community. more »

Adventurers and scientists alike often trek into the Arctic for either research or to prove a point. Armed to the gills will equipment, survival gear and knowledge, they are well prepared for any challenge that they may meet. But how would a reality TV star do in the cold Arctic? more »

The U.S. Navy has released its “Arctic road map”. The document, put out by the Department of the Navy, indicats that the Navy will be increasing its presence in the Arctic in a bid to not only defend national security, but to also defend the country’s marine interests, including any potential oil or natural gas stocks. more »

Book description from Amazon:
This book presents a fascinating study of the impact Arctic reserves have – and will continue to have – on the global political and environmental stages. On 2 August 2007, a Russian submarine captured world headlines by making a dangerous journey to the bottom of the Arctic seabed and planting a metal, rust-free national flag more than 14,000 feet beneath the North Pole. The aim was to assert Russia’s legal sovereignty over a region whose importance had only recently started to become apparent as its melting ice had made, or was expected to make, vast natural resources open to exploitation. The latest estimates are that the region holds around 13 per cent of the world’s undiscovered oil and as much as 30 per cent of undiscovered natural gas reserves that would be hugely profitable for any country that managed to secure control over them. Gold, platinum, copper and other precious metals have also been found along the coast. Neighbouring countries – Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark and Norway – are already doing everything they can to mark out new borders. The ensuing political disagreements over the issue are already rife. In particular, games of political intrigue between Moscow and Washington are being played out in the region. But as the world’s resources become increasingly scarce and valuable, could the scramble for Arctic resources become violent? Could a ‘War for the Arctic’ be fought?

About the Author
Roger Howard is a writer and broadcaster specialising in international relations. His most recent publications are The Oil Hunters (2008) and Iran Oil: The New Middle East Challenge to America (2006).