ARCTIC: The AMOC to Collapse & more – 29th Oct 2024

Góðan daginn from Keswick Village! This is the Rorshok Arctic Update from the 29th of October twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what’s going down North of the Arctic Circle!

Nordic leaders received a stark message about climate change this week. During a meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers on Monday the 21st, climate scientists warned ministers from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland about the rapid weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a major ocean current system responsible for warming Europe, saying it could potentially collapse by twenty sixty. They stressed that this would bring devastating impacts, including colder winters and rising sea levels, significantly altering life across the Arctic. Nordic ministers responded by agreeing to ramp up climate action and renew efforts to meet international climate goals.

Meanwhile, the push and pull between Russia’s ambitions to create an Arctic energy industry and the US attempting to stop this has taken a major step toward the US. Shipping news agency gCaptain reported on Friday the 25th that Western economic sanctions have forced the early closure of Russia’s Arctic natural gas facility, LNG2, until next year. The report cites industry sources that say the facility hasn’t produced any natural gas since the 11th of October, less than three months since production began. Even though LNG2 was able to load eight vessels with gas at that time, sanctions prevented any sales from taking place. Unless Russia finds a buyer, the gas facility, once considered the economic future of Arctic Russia, will remain closed.

The US is piling on the pressure in the Russian Arctic, adding military threats to the economic sanctions. At a press conference on Wednesday the 23rd, the U.S. Naval Forces Europe revealed that two US Navy Destroyer vessels had sailed into the Barents Sea, close to the Russian naval base which houses the Russian nuclear submarine fleet. The US Navy has avoided sailing in the Barents Sea since twenty twenty in order to avoid any escalation of conflict.

But on Tuesday the 22nd, the Russian military published a series of Notice to Airmen warnings in the Barents Sea, active from the 28th of October to the 3rd of November, indicating that Russia would be conducting live military exercises and firing missiles in the region. The US Navy believes that this warning justifies its increased presence to ensure Russia’s military stays within its own territory.

Finland is also working to defend itself from the immediate danger posed by Russia. In a press release from Thursday the 24th, the Finnish Border Guard announced that two of its border crossing stations on the Russian border have been closed permanently. Last December, Finland temporarily closed its entire border with Russia for the sake of national security, but hoped tensions would eventually ease between the two nations. Unfortunately, relations between Finland and Russia have only worsened and the Finnish government has decided to never reopen part of its border.

The United States' Arctic ambitions are taking a hit. On Monday the 21st, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it is withdrawing from the project to build the country’s first Arctic deep-water port in Nome, Alaska. Originally set to receive over $600 million dollars in funding—with ninety percent from the Army Corps and the rest from the City of Nome—the project faced ballooning costs that exceeded the Army Corps' limits. Though the port isn’t fully canceled, Nome must now secure new funding to complete a project vital to expanding Alaska’s commercial and military reach in the Arctic.

Speaking of Alaska, on Thursday the 24th, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state-owned corporation, approved up to $20 million dollars to secure oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The investment is part of a larger effort to keep oil exploration alive in the refuge, despite opposition from conservation groups and a recent pause in federal drilling leases. The funds will cover potential bid costs and exploration expenses if federal leasing resumes. With this decision, Alaska is doubling down on Arctic oil, hoping to revive interest in the refuge amid legal and political uncertainty.

Next up, Sweden’s attempt to bring cryptocurrency to the north is having serious consequences. On Tuesday the 23rd, Svenska Kraftnät, Sweden’s energy watchdog, reported that cryptocurrency companies now use about one percent of the country’s electricity—equivalent to the city of Malmö’s annual consumption. The watchdog warned that this rising energy demand, mostly concentrated in Sweden’s north, may strain power resources needed for green industry initiatives and other sectors crucial to Sweden’s sustainable energy goals.

In other news, every country with designs on increasing its presence in the Arctic has always faced the same problem: How do you stay connected in such a remote part of the world? That problem finally has an answer. On Thursday the 24th, the Norwegian state-owned company Space Norway announced that two broadband satellites launched in the summer have arrived in place above the Arctic Circle and broadband coverage is now possible throughout the Arctic for the first time ever. Norway now holds extensive control over civilian and military operations across the far north.

Sometimes an internet connection isn’t enough to stay connected in the Arctic, but air travel is improving. On Tuesday the 23rd, Air Greenland and Icelandair announced a new partnership to improve travel connections across the Arctic. The deal opens new routes between Greenland, Canada, and Nordic countries, making it easier for passengers to travel throughout the region. This collaboration will increase tourism, business, and cultural exchange across northern communities, while both airlines work together to improve Arctic travel accessibility and efficiency.

On another note, Arctic warming is making life harder for polar bears. A study by the University of Washington on Tuesday the 22nd shows melting ice and snow are leaving polar bears wet, causing ice buildup on their feet. This results in lacerations, hair loss, and skin ulcers — a condition first observed in twenty twelve and now seen across the Arctic.

The warming Arctic is also bringing new pathogens to polar bears. On Wednesday the 23rd, the US Geological Survey reported increased rates of parasites, bacteria, and viruses in polar bears since the nineteen eighties. While the bears have strong disease resistance, scientists warn that more pathogens could pose serious health risks in the future.

This week marks the international polar bear week, to know more about it, follow the link in the show notes! .

Even though the warming Arctic has led to devastating wildfires over Canada, twenty twenty-four has seen an improvement compared to last year. According to statistics by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center published on Monday the 21st, this year’s Canadian wildfire season saw less than half of the destruction compared to twenty twenty-three. While that might seem like cause for celebration, twenty twenty-three was by far the worst wildfire season in Canada’s history, and twenty twenty-four has been the third most destructive wildfire season of the century. Even though the burning has continued, far fewer evacuations and human disruption were felt this year. The Government of the Northwest Territories has requested over $20 million US dollars from the federal government to further prepare for future wildfire seasons, which show no sign of stopping.

The responsibility to protect vulnerable land in Canada might be handed over to its Indigenous communities soon. The government agency Parks Canada took a major step in conservation and reconciliation on Monday the 28th by unveiling its National Indigenous Stewardship Policy. Developed alongside Indigenous leaders, the policy aims to grant Indigenous communities a more active role in managing Canada’s national parks and historic sites. By integrating traditional knowledge and cultural values, the policy seeks to deepen environmental preservation efforts and strengthen relationships between Canada and Indigenous nations.

Finally, the biggest sporting event of the Arctic is facing an uncertain future. Canada’s Northwest Territories will not host the Arctic Winter Games in twenty twenty-eight, as previously agreed. In an announcement on Friday the 25th, the territorial government confirmed that they declined the chance to host the event, citing recent financial pressures and ongoing disaster recovery needs following the severe wildfire season. The twenty twenty-six tournament will be hosted by the western Canadian province Alberta,. but further editions are without a host and another northern region needs to step up soon.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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Bless bless