Issues in the Arctic region
Context:
- The global warming phenomenon is accelerating due to the warming of the arctic region and the melting of polar ice. The interests of the “global common” are forgotten by the global powers as they prioritise their own national interests. In that case, India can facilitate the creation of agreement among world powers.
What’s going on in the Arctic?
- Sea ice is disappearing at a rate never seen before in the Arctic due to warming that is four times quicker than the normal global rate. Permafrost is also starting to defrost.
- The “great white shield” protecting the North Pole might disappear if Arctic change persists, releasing enormous amounts of carbon that have been stored.
- Multiple catastrophic and irreversible climate tipping points may result from this.
- Thus, preserving the Arctic is essential to shielding the rest of the world from the worst consequences of the climate catastrophe.
The reason behind Arctic Warming?
- Since pre-industrial times, human activity has accelerated global warming, raising the planet’s average temperature by 1.1 degrees Celsius.
- Although variations are seen all throughout the world, the north and south poles often experience greater variations in surface air temperature and net radiation balance.
- These alterations are more noticeable at northern latitudes and are referred to as the Arctic amplification. This process is known as polar amplification.
- The amplification of this phenomenon can be attributed to various factors, the principal ones being the ice-albedo feedback, lapse rate feedback, water vapour feedback, and ocean heat transport, among many others.
- Compared to water and land, sea ice and snow have a high albedo, which means they can reflect the majority of solar light.
- Sea ice is receding in the Arctic as a result of global warming.
- The amplification will increase as the sea ice disappears because the Arctic Ocean will be able to absorb more solar radiation.
- Polar amplification is caused by the ice-albedo feedback in 40% of cases and the lapse rate feedback in 15% of cases, respectively.
What effects does the warming of the Arctic have?
- Arctic amplification has cyclical causes and effects; hence, what may be a cause may also be a consequence.
- A total of 18 billion tonnes of ice were melted in three days due to the unusually high summer temperatures, which is equivalent to covering West Virginia with a foot of water. Each day, 6 billion tonnes of ice were melted.
- 2019 saw a 1.5 metre rise in sea level, with Greenland ice loss being the primary contributor.
- The sea level would increase by seven metres if the sheet melted entirely, swallowing out key coastal cities and island nations.
- The biodiversity, which includes marine species and dependent species, is being impacted by the warming of the Arctic Ocean and the surrounding seas, the acidity of the water, and changes in salt levels.
- The Arctic species is dying of widespread famine as a result of the amplification of the Arctic.
- As the Arctic’s permafrost thaws, carbon and methane—two of the main greenhouse gases causing global warming—are released into the atmosphere.
- The long-dormant bacteria and viruses that were imprisoned in the permafrost will also be released during the thaw and melt, potentially leading to the emergence of illnesses.
- The most well-known instance of this occurred in 2016, when anthrax spread over Siberia as a result of thawing permafrost, killing almost 200,000 reindeer.
Arctic Warming’s Effect on the Global South:
- Extreme rainfall occurrences during the Indian summer monsoon are intricately correlated with the loss of Arctic Sea ice, according to recent research.
- The monsoon, which provides 80% of South Asia’s rainfall, is essential to agriculture and livelihoods.
Arctic Warming is being ignored by global authorities:
- The Arctic is evolving into a geopolitical arena of contention.
- Russia is exploring petroleum and conducting business via the thawing northern sea route.
- Despite an increasing number of banks pledging not to finance these kinds of projects, other Arctic nations are also organising their own plans for oil and gas development.
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused the Arctic Council to postpone its meeting in spite of this development pressure.
Arctic Council: What is it?
- The Ottawa Declaration of 1996 established the Arctic Council, a high-level intergovernmental organisation, with the goal of fostering communication, cooperation, and coordination amongst the Arctic States, as well as with indigenous peoples and other Arctic residents.
- Members of the Arctic Council: The United States of America, Canada, the Russian Federation, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are all recognised as members of the Arctic Council by the Ottawa Declaration. Denmark is the Faroe Islands’ and Greenland’s representative.
How may India assist?
- The global south is not represented on the council.
- India is a member as an observer. It could put the global south’s concerns to the council.
- India has shown itself capable of balancing the divergent interests of the Global North and the Global South, as evidenced by the New Delhi Leader’s Declaration.
- During its remaining G20 leadership, India could bring up the issue of Arctic warming in a positive dialogue on climate governance.
- In conclusion, there has to be international agreement on protecting the Arctic ecology. India’s post-G20 future should focus on advancing these changes and making sure that climate protection is at the forefront of global Arctic policymaking, as it moves closer to becoming the leader of the Global South.
