Select Committee on the Arctic - Report of Session 2014–15
Responding to a changing Arctic
Figure 2: Common definitions of the Arctic
Box 1: The Arctic and the Antarctic
The Committee’s inquiry and report
Chapter 2: Climate change in the Arctic
Climate change is altering the Arctic
Figure 3: Arctic surface air temperature anomaly over land,
1900–2014
Figure 4: Polar amplification of warming in the last decade
The effects of temperature increases in the Arctic
Figure 5: Sea ice extent changes, 1979–2014
Figure 6: September 2014 sea ice extent
Figure 7: September 1980 and September 2012 sea ice extents
Figure 8: Multi-year sea ice in the Arctic
The melting of land ice and reduction in snow cover
Figure 9: Loss of mass in the Greenland ice sheet
Figure 10: Snow cover changes in the Arctic, 1979–2012
Permafrost melting and infrastructure problems
The potential for methane and carbon dioxide release
Further Arctic impacts of a changing climate
Ocean temperatures and ocean acidification
Potential effects upon the ocean circulation
Potential changes to the jet stream
Chapter 3: Globalisation and governance
Increasing international attention on the Arctic
Causes of increasing attention
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
Box 2: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
Figure 11: Exclusive Economic Zones
Box 3: Arctic Council member states, Permanent Participants
and observers
Tensions within the Arctic states
The necessity of Arctic co-operation, and current tensions surrounding Russia
Achievements of the Arctic Council
Arctic relations in the wake of increased tension over Crimea and events in eastern Ukraine
Observer status at the Arctic Council
The EU’s application for observer status
Pressures resulting from the growth in Arctic Council observers
Other international bodies and agreements affecting the Arctic
Chapter 4: The impact of Arctic changes: internal pressures and opportunities within the Arctic
Sea ice, and marine ecosystems
Knowledge gaps, and a role for the UK
The impact upon Arctic residents
The indigenous peoples of the Arctic
Figure 12: Demography of indigenous peoples of the Arctic
based on linguistic groups
Representation of indigenous peoples
Attitudes and approaches to Arctic economic development
Striking a balance—a role for the UK?
Hydrocarbons and resource extraction: opportunities and
constraints
The potential for new shipping routes
Table 1: Transits of the Northern Sea Route, 2010–2014
Risks and challenges associated with a growth in shipping
Figure 13: Illustrative search and rescue zones
The potential for long-term surprises, shocks and change
Chapter 6: The UK and the Arctic
Stepping up the UK’s Arctic engagement
Box 4: Trading links between the UK and the Arctic Council member states
How, when and where should the UK be prepared to step up in
Arctic affairs?
Engaging with the Arctic region through British science and technology
The UK’s current contribution to Arctic science and technology
UK Arctic science: the need for strategic drive and co-ordination
UK Arctic science: representation and funding
UK Arctic science: changes needed
Co-ordinating the UK’s diplomatic presence in Arctic
co-operation
Increasing the UK’s diplomatic presence in Arctic co-operation
Publishing a successor to the 2013 Arctic Policy Framework
The UK’s role in security co-operation around the Arctic
Other UK state-led contributions to Arctic co-operation
Drawing together commercial strengths
Drawing upon the UK’s local strengths
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix 1: List of Members and Declarations of Interest
Appendix 4: Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Evidence is published online at http://www.parliament.uk/arcticcom and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7219 3074)
Q in footnotes refers to a question in oral evidence