Who should own the North Pole?

[Jacobtm]

No one "should" own the North Pole.

The question of who actually will own the North Pole will be decided by nothing more than who can enforce their claims to it, essentially it comes down to military force nothing more.

[politicus]

No one "should" own the North Pole.

The question of who actually will own the North Pole will be decided by nothing more than who can enforce their claims to it, essentially it comes down to military force nothing more.

Rather unrealistic in this context. The Arctic Council has operated on a legalistic basis for close to two decades with consensus about using international sea law to determine conflicts. The idea of Russia and NATO going to war over the North Pole is rather far fetched.

[politicus]

Also, the US chairs the Arctic Council 2015-17 and former Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., has been appointed as the first ever U.S. Special Representative for the Arctic.

The U.S. program for its Arctic Council Chairmanship has three focus areas:

- Improving economic and living conditions.
- Arctic Ocean safety, security and stewardship.
- Addressing the impacts of climate change.

So a peaceful and science-based agenda.

"1. Improving Economic and Living Conditions in Arctic Communities


Remote Arctic communities face a number of threats to the health and well-being of their citizens, including food and water security, safe water, sewer and sanitation, affordable and renewable energy, adequate mental health services, and the need to ensure the continued economic viability of their communities.  

Our work in this area will aim to:

Promote the development of renewable energy technology, such as modular micro-grid systems, to spur public-private partnerships and improve energy affordability.

Provide a better understanding of freshwater security in the Arctic, including through the creation of a Water Resources Vulnerability Index.

Coordinate an Arctic-wide telecommunications infrastructure assessment to promote the build-out of commercial infrastructure in the region.

Support mental wellness, including suicide prevention and resilience.

Harness the expertise and resources of the Arctic Economic Council to inform the Arctic Council’s work on economic and living conditions.

Mitigate public health risks and reduce black carbon output in Arctic communities.

Promote better community sanitation and public health by facilitation collaboration between industry, researchers and public policy experts to increase access to and reduce the operating costs of in-home running water and sewer in remote communities.


2. Arctic Ocean Safety, Security and Stewardship  

The acceleration of maritime activity in the Arctic increases risk in an already harsh and challenging environment.  U.S. Chairmanship priorities include building upon existing preparedness and response programs; enhancing the ability of Arctic states to execute their search and rescue responsibilities; and emphasizing safe, secure, and environmentally sound shipping as a matter of high priority.  To ensure that future maritime development avoids negative impacts, particularly in areas of ecological and cultural significance, the Arctic Council is also continuing its work towards a network of marine protected areas and enhanced international cooperation in the Arctic Ocean.  Ocean acidification is one of the most urgent issues facing the world’s ocean today and the Arctic Council is responding by supporting research to improve the capability to monitor and track acidification in the Arctic Ocean.

Our work in this area will aim to:

Better prepare those responsible to better address search and rescue challenges in the Arctic.

Ensure marine environmental protection, including working toward the establishment of a network of marine protected areas.

Explore the creation of a Regional Seas Program of the Arctic Ocean.

Create a better understanding of Arctic Ocean acidification and its effects on Arctic organisms and the economies that rely on them.

Encourage all parties take the steps necessary to allow for the proper implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution, Preparedness and response in the Arctic.


3. Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

The impacts of climate change affect the Arctic and the many people, wildlife, and plants that depend on the region for survival. The United States recognizes that we need to reduce black carbon (soot) and methane emissions, which disproportionally impact the Arctic. The Arctic Council is addressing the impacts of climate change by facilitating cooperation on action to reduce black carbon and methane emissions. Arctic Council activities to enhance access to adaptation and resilience tools, and promote the development of climate change indicators and high-resolution mapping are also priorities of the U.S. chairmanship that will increase scientists’, communities’, policymakers’ and the public’s understanding of the impacts of climate change.  

Our work in this area will aim to:

Target short-lived climate pollutants through reductions in black carbon and methane emissions.

Support Arctic climate adaptation and resilience efforts including the creation of an Early Warning Indicator System.

Create a Pan-Arctic Digital Elevation Map that will increase our understanding of the impacts of climate change on shorelines and surface areas in the Arctic."

[politicus]