Environmental implications of climate changes in the Arctic region

• Main Author: Młynarski, Tomasz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://ruj.uj.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/item/23355; http://miscellanea.ujk.edu.pl/data/Oferta/Pliki/600_2.T.Mlynarski.pdf

Climate changes have a significant impact on the Arctic and its environment. As Arctic waters become increasingly accessible offshore hydrocarbons exploitation, maritime 35 shipping and tourism are all expected to increase over the coming years. Rapid progress of ice melting in the High North has given rise to the potential exploration and use of Arctic resources, which could destroy the unique environment. The region’s situation is additionally complicated by the unclear international legal status of the sea bed and disputes regarding freedom of navigation characteristic for international waters of a high sea. Offshore oil and gas exploration, oil/gas drilling and storage vessels will threaten the Arctic ecosystem and multiply the risk of an oil spill in such an environmentally sensitive area.