|Rainbow over Canada's icy St. Lawrence River near Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois, Quebec.|
Beyond opening up potential for underwater resource extraction, a reduction in ice cover could also open up commercial navigation across the fabled Northwest Passage or other routes. This could reduce the cost of shipping goods across the globe, but could significantly increase marine traffic in the Arctic Ocean.
Arctic nations are gearing up for this possible future. For example, Canada has ordered new icebreakers and offshore patrol boats, and the head of the Royal Canadian Navy has recommended increasing military staffing in the region.
What will the future hold for the Arctic? Will perennial ice cover be significantly reduced within decades? If so, what will it mean for the environments, economies, and national security interests of countries in the Arctic region?