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Marine spatial planning is increasingly used to manage the demands on marine areas, both spatially and temporally, where several different users may compete for resources or space, to ensure that development is as sustainable as possible. Diminishing sea-ice coverage in the Arctic will allow for potential increases in economic exploitation, and failure to plan for cross-sectoral management could have negative economic and environmental results. During the ACCESS programme, a marine spatial planning tool was developed for the Arctic, enabling the integrated study of human activities related to hydrocarbon exploitation, shipping and fisheries, and the possible environmental impacts, within the context of the next 30 years of climate change. In addition to areas under national jurisdiction, the Arctic Ocean contains a large area of high seas. Resources and ecosystems extend across political boundaries. We use three examples to highlight the need for transboundary planning and governance to be developed at a regional level.

This paper analyzes the importance of the melting of the Arctic ice for Mexico. The research examines the impacts of this process, the Mexican government’s environmental policies, citizen’s perception and the media’s approach to climate change and the melting of the Arctic ice. To obtain the results, an exploratory analysis was carried out, from which it was concluded that, despite the importance of the Arctic melting in the current climate crisis affecting all countries, and specifically Mexico, within the political agendas of the nation, the citizenry and the mass media, both climate change and the Arctic melting are secondary issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about the Arctic region and its climate change. It is the principal driver of changes in the Arctic, causing disruptions to services and benefits, and greater instability. The geopolitical aspect of the Arctic are discusses by the panelists, who emphasize the importance of cooperation and rules that apply to operations in the Arctic.

The article offers information related to Climate Change's Profound Disruption of the Arctic, which will focus on the changing geography of the Arctic, Arctic policy, and the impacts and implications of a changing climate in the Arctic. Michael Sfraga, the founding director of the Polar Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Institute discussing about the Arctic policy.

There is limited knowledge on institutional factors constraining and enabling climate change adaptation in Arctic regions, or the overall readiness of governing bodies and communities to develop, implement, and promote adaptation. This paper examines the preparedness of different levels of government to adapt in the Canadian Arctic territory of Nunavut, drawing upon semi-structured interviews with government personnel and organizations involved in adaptation. In the Government of Nunavut, there have been notable developments around adaptation planning and examples of adaptation champions, but readiness for adaptation is challenged by a number of factors including the existence of pressing socio-economic problems, and institutional and governmental barriers. Federally, there is evidence of high-level leadership on adaptation, the creation of adaptation programs, and allocation of funds for adaptation, although the focus has been mostly on researching adaptation options as opposed to supporting actual actions or policy change. The 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and increasing emphasis on climate change federally and in the Government of Nunavut, offer opportunities for advancing adaptation, but concrete steps are needed to ensure readiness is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geostrategic, political, economic, and scientific relevance of the Arctic is constantly growing due to the complex process of climate change. Accordingly, the European Union—as a global political actor—, is already taking steps to ensure and strengthen its influence in the region while demonstrating readiness to face the many opportunities and challenges ahead in cooperation with the traditional stakeholders. Therefore, in order to reflect the renewed importance of the Arctic transformation, the Union has been designing its Arctic Policy focusing on climate change mitigation and multilateral cooperation as its main strengths. Unfortunately, despite the diligence and impetus that has been invested, this process has been delayed in several occasions as the Union had to deal with internal and external destabilizing factors, such as the later immigration crisis or the lack of uniformity among its member states’ foreign policy interests. These factors will be analyzed along with the process of creation and development of the EU’s Arctic policy. Despite some delays, on 27 April 2016, the long-awaited third communication was issued and progress has been made: even if, in general terms, the new document remains a political statement, there is also a clear commitment to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing offshore oil and gas exploration and development in harsh/Arctic environments require more effective offshore produced water management, as these environments are much more sensitive to changes in water quality than more temperate climates. However, the number and scope of studies of offshore produced water management in harsh/Arctic environments are limited. This paper reviews the current state of offshore produced water management, impacts, and policies, as well as the vulnerability, implications and operational challenges in harsh/Arctic environments. The findings show that the primary contaminant(s) of concern are contained in both the dissolved oil and the dispersed oil. The application of emerging technologies that can tackle this issue is significantly limited by the challenges of offshore operations in harsh/Arctic environments. Therefore, there is a need to develop more efficient and suitable management systems since more stringent policies are being implemented due to the increased vulnerability of harsh/Arctic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two different kinds of locales that are commonly understood as sensitive to the effects on ongoing and potentially increasing climate change are the Arctic, as a world region, and cities, as the preferred dwelling place of over half of the planet's population. Understanding how climate change may affect Arctic cities would be of paramount importance, especially where population densities are high. In the Arctic, the Russian Federation contains the most Arctic territory, the most highly urbanized places and greatest number of urban residents across all of the Arctic. This paper provides an overview of climate change policy in Russia, generally, and an urban vulnerability framework developed specifically to elucidate the suite of biophysical, socioeconomic, political and cultural vulnerabilities related to climate change in Russian Arctic urban places. This paper suggests that domestic politics and policy do not currently address the current and impending vulnerabilities related to climate change for people in urban settings in the Russian North. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper develops a methodology for climate change adaptation planning in remote, resource-dependent communities. The methods are structured using a vulnerability framework, and community members, local stakeholders and researchers are engaged in an iterative planning process to identify, describe, prioritize and pilot adaptation actions. The methods include: (1) analysis of secondary sources of information, (2) community collaboration and partnership building, (3) adaptation planning workshops, (4) adaptation plan development, (5) key informant and community review and (6) pilot adaptation actions. Vulnerability to climate change is assessed in the context of other non-climatic factors-social, political, economic and environmental, already being experienced in communities and which influence how climate change is experienced and responded to. Key exposure-sensitivities and related adaptation options are identified in five sectors of a community: business and economy, culture and learning, health and well-being, subsistence harvesting, and transportation and infrastructure. This organization allows for focused discussions and the involvement of relevant stakeholders and experts from each sector. The methodology is applied in Paulatuk, an Inuit community located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, and key findings are highlighted. The methods developed have important lessons for adaptation planning in remote, resource-dependent communities generally and contributes to a small but growing scholarship on methodology in the human dimensions of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses social, ecological, and economic factors contributing to the transition of Arctic environments into unknown futures. The author argues that policies concerning the future of the Arctic region can no longer be determined in relation to short-term political and economic interests, adding that economic instability and the challenges of limiting the impacts of climate change necessitate change. Topics include the changes in the Arctic region as a result of distant human activity, the ineffectiveness of scientific data in influencing personal and policy decisions, and how the world may have to deal with when shaping the Arctic's future history.

Because of significant environmental changes underway in the Arctic region, institutional change for Northwest Passage management is receiving increased attention. Due to the potential environmental and security impacts of regularized ship transits through the Northwest Passage, a number of informed observers have discussed the need for considering alternative means of governing the waterway. This article assesses four approaches to governing the use of the Northwest Passage, including the current institutional arrangement. Following an overview of the environmental change underway in the Arctic region and its impacts on the Northwest Passage, the controversy surrounding the international legal status of the waterway and the possibility that it may in future become a commercial resource are discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of three alternative institutional models of resource governance recommended for application in the Northwest Passage case are presented, along with those surrounding the Arctic Cooperation Agreement, the current institution in use. The analysis suggests maintenance of the status quo institution appears to be the most likely outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers a look at the changing meaning and relevance of Arctic navigation. According to the author, three fundamental issues have been identified with regard to the emergent geopolitics of Arctic navigation, namely, international interests in Arctic mineral resources, changing sea-ice patterns in response to climate change and the environmental security of Arctic peoples.

The article reports on the plans of the European Commission to increase its involvement in the Arctic Region. It mentions that the plans aim to exploit untapped oil resources in the region and to protect the Arctic environment for the purpose of strengthening Europe's energy security. It adds that part of the plans are also to strengthen the international efforts of mitigating climate change in the region, as well as identifying the potential areas where support for adaptation must be provided.