The Arctic Imperative: Cooperation, Challenges, and India’s Role
The Arctic Imperative.
Why the Arctic Matters.
The Arctic, a snowy and icy region at the top of the world, is changing rapidly. Melting ice, hidden treasures like oil and gas, and new sea routes for ships are making it a centre of global attention. However, this beautiful and fragile region is caught in political conflicts, especially after Russia’s actions in Ukraine and the expansion of NATO.
Trust among Arctic nations is low, making it harder to work together on important issues like climate change, pollution, and protecting local communities. For countries like India, the Arctic is not just far away—it’s connected to us through the climate, oceans, and trade. This essay discusses the challenges in the Arctic, why cooperation is necessary, and how India can play a helpful role.
1. A Region in Conflict: Geopolitics in the Arctic
The Arctic was once considered a peaceful place where countries worked together. But in recent years, competition over resources and influence has increased. Russia, which owns more than half of the Arctic’s land, has been building military bases and promoting the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as an alternative shipping lane. Western nations, led by the U.S. and NATO, have responded by increasing their military presence. Countries like China, which is not even near the Arctic, are also investing in the region, calling itself a “near-Arctic state”.
This tension makes it difficult to focus on the real problems the Arctic faces. The melting of ice caps and pollution from industries are problems that no single country can solve. Cooperation among Arctic nations and global partners is the only way forward. Unfortunately, trust has eroded, especially between Russia and Western nations, after the Ukraine conflict.
2. The Arctic Imperative Environmental Crisis
The Arctic is like the Earth’s refrigerator, helping to keep the planet cool. But this “refrigerator” is warming fast. Ice is melting, and this affects the entire world, including India. For example, the Arctic influences our monsoon, which is essential for farming in India. If the Arctic warms, monsoons might become unpredictable, hurting crops and farmers.
Melting ice also releases harmful gases like methane, which speeds up global warming. Additionally, ancient viruses and bacteria trapped in frozen ice (called permafrost) are waking up as the ice melts. Scientists fear these could cause new diseases. Working together to study and address these dangers is critical, but geopolitical conflicts are delaying this research.
India, through its Himadri research station in the Arctic, has been studying these changes. However, with reduced access to data from Russian Arctic sites, India’s ability to predict climate impacts is limited. For instance, researchers now rely more on satellite data, which is not as detailed as on-the-ground observations.
3. A Nuclear Hazard Under the Ice
The Arctic has another hidden danger—nuclear waste. During the Cold War, countries like the Soviet Union dumped nuclear materials into the Arctic Ocean. Today, some of this waste, including old submarines and reactors, lies at the bottom of the sea. As the ice melts, there is a risk that radioactive materials could leak into the water.
In Russia’s Andreyeva Bay, for instance, thousands of tons of nuclear waste remain poorly managed. Cleaning up these sites is expensive and requires advanced technology, which is hard to arrange without international cooperation. This nuclear waste poses a threat not only to the Arctic environment but also to the global seafood supply. For India, which relies on fisheries as a source of food and income, this is a major concern.
4. Indigenous Communities: The Forgotten Guardians
The Arctic is home to about four million people, including 500,000 indigenous individuals who have lived there for generations. These communities depend on the Arctic’s natural resources for food, culture, and livelihoods. However, they are among the first to feel the effects of climate change. Melting ice affects their ability to hunt and fish, while pollution and industrial activities further endanger their environment.
Instead of focusing on these human issues, Arctic nations are caught up in military buildups. For example, while local Arctic businesses struggle with poor infrastructure, countries like Finland are practicing landing fighter jets on highways. This imbalance highlights how geopolitical tensions often ignore the people most affected by Arctic changes.
India, with its experience in supporting indigenous Himalayan communities, can offer solutions. Technologies used in India for remote healthcare and education could help Arctic communities, too. Advocating for the rights and welfare of Arctic indigenous people aligns with India’s values of inclusivity and fairness.
5. Economic Opportunities and Risks
The Arctic is rich in resources like oil, gas, and rare-earth minerals, which are used to make electronics. It also has some of the world’s richest fishing grounds. For India, accessing these resources could boost energy security and support its growing technology sector.
New shipping routes, like the Northern Sea Route, could reduce the time it takes for goods to travel between Asia and Europe. For India, this means faster and cheaper trade. However, developing these routes responsibly is important to avoid harming the Arctic ecosystem.
Unlike China, which aggressively invests in Arctic infrastructure, India takes a cautious and sustainable approach. India collaborates with countries like Russia and Norway on resource projects while emphasising environmental protection.
6. India’s Arctic Vision: Science, Sustainability, and Diplomacy
India’s Arctic engagement is built on six pillars: science, environmental protection, economic cooperation, connectivity, capacity-building, and governance. Each of these reflects India’s balanced and responsible approach.
- Scientific Leadership: India’s Himadri station in Svalbard is a hub for studying Arctic climates and their effects on the monsoon and Himalayan glaciers. India also collaborates with international efforts like the NASA-ISRO radar project to monitor Arctic ecosystems.
- Environmental Ethics: India promotes sustainable development and aligns its Arctic actions with global goals like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes reducing black carbon, which contributes to Arctic warming.
- Neutral Diplomacy: India avoids taking sides in Arctic disputes, focusing instead on building trust. For example, India supports depoliticising scientific collaborations so that Arctic research can continue, even during political conflicts.
- Support for Indigenous Welfare: India draws on its experience with Himalayan communities to propose low-cost solutions for Arctic indigenous populations. These include digital health services and renewable energy systems tailored for remote areas.
7. The Need for Cooperation: A Shared Responsibility
The challenges in the Arctic are too big for any one country to handle alone. The Arctic Council, which used to be a platform for cooperation, is now paralyzed by geopolitics. Russia’s isolation after its actions in Ukraine has further strained Arctic governance.
India, as a neutral observer, can play a key role in reviving dialogue. By working with other non-Arctic states like Japan and South Korea, India can push for reforms that prioritise shared global interests over regional disputes. For example, India could promote joint research initiatives that focus on climate change, nuclear waste management, and sustainable resource use.
8. A Model Action for a Changing Arctic
As the Arctic continues to change, the world must act. This means balancing resource use with environmental care, ensuring the safety of Arctic communities, and preventing the region from becoming a battleground for military conflicts. India’s approach—focused on science, sustainability, and peace—offers a model for how nations can work together.
By promoting inclusivity, advocating for indigenous rights, and encouraging global cooperation, India strengthens its role as a responsible global player. Its efforts in the Arctic not only benefit the region but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.
Conclusion
The Arctic is more than a frozen frontier; it is a mirror reflecting the challenges and opportunities of our planet. From climate change and resource management to indigenous rights and global security, the Arctic demands urgent attention and collaboration. India’s commitment to science, fairness, and cooperation highlights how nations can address these challenges together. As we look to the future, a cooperative Arctic—where nations prioritise shared goals over conflicts—remains our best hope for protecting this vital region and the planet as a whole.
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The Source’s Authority and Ownership of the Article is Claimed By THE STUDY IAS BY MANIKANT SINGH
