1. Russia wants to own more of the Arctic Ocean
Arctic aspirations
Russia wants to own more of the Arctic Ocean
Lesson 2  Plenary

2. Can you identify Russia?
Where is the North Pole?
Russia

3. Arctic issues Sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean is shrinking
Scientists have linked this change with global warming
With reduced ice, the Arctic Ocean could become an important shipping route
With reduced ice, it may be easier to gain access to the Arctic sea floor for valuable minerals, oil and gas
Arctic circle countries include Russia, Canada, Greenland (Denmark) and the USA (Alaska)

4. Seasonal freeze and thaw
Every year, Arctic ice cover shrinks in Summer
Then the sea freezes over again in Winter

5. The rate and scale of change
Over the last 30 years, Arctic sea ice cover has reduced dramatically
Many scientists see this as evidence for global warming

6. Who has a claim? Several countries have existing Arctic rights
As the ice reduces, they may all argue for an even greater share of sea bed resources

7. Climate change
The Arctic could become an important shipping route in years to come

8. Geo-political tension
In 2007, Russia claimed increased Arctic ownership and planted a flag on the sea bed, 4 km below the surface
This troubled the neighbouring countries, who believe they may also have a claim
Canada, Denmark and the USA felt that Russia had committed an act of aggression

9. Planting a flag This photo shows a MIR submersible
It was used to plant a Russian flag on the seabed

10. Does Russia have a claim?
Currently (according to a United Nations treaty), a country can prove ownership of the sea bed if it can provide evidence that it is an extension of its continental shelf
The countries inside the Arctic Circle have existing rights over a 200-mile zone around their coastline
Russia claims that a large additional part of the Arctic sea bed is an extension of the Lomonosov Ridge, which is part of their territory
The United Nations does not agree

11. Arctic wilderness
Greenpeace want the Arctic to be protected from oil drilling.
They believe this fragile region should be left alone

12. Picture credits
Slide 2 "Une partie de l'hémisphère nord de la Terre avec la banquise, nuage, étoile et localisation de la station météo en Alert" by NASA/Goddard Space Flight CenterScientific Visualization Studio. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Slide 4 "Arctic Sea Ice Minimum Comparison" by Assembled from NASA Earth Observatory images by Jesse Allen, using data from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 AMSR-2 sensor on the Global Change Observation Mission 1st-Water (GCOM-W1) satellite. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Slide 5 "IICWG Arctic Chart 2007 H" by National Ice Center - National Ice Center, NOAA. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Slide 7, 11 Peter Prokosch
Slide 9 "Mir front" by L. Murphy - NOAA Ocean Explorer. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons