By James Stavridis (Bloomberg Opinion) -- I spent much of my life in the U.S. Navy, including nearly 11 years on the deep ocean day-to-day, out of sight of land. This really drove home the fact that oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface — all the world’s land would fit comfortably within the Pacific. Oceans produce much of the oxygen we breathe and a great deal of the … [Read more...]
Finland-Norway Rail Link Planned to Support Arctic Sea Routes
By Tarmo Virki HELSINKI, May 9 (Reuters) - A Finnish company said on Thursday it planned to develop a railway connection between north Finland and Norway's Kirkenes port to link with potential Arctic shipping routes at an estimated cost of between 3-5 billion euros ($3.4-5.6 billion). Global warming has reduced ice coverage in the Arctic, opening up the possibility of new … [Read more...]
U.S. Sinks Arctic Accord Over to Climate Change Differences -Diplomats
By Simon Johnson ROVANIEMI, Finland, May 7 (Reuters) - The United States has refused to sign an agreement on challenges in the Arctic due to discrepancies over climate change wording, diplomats said on Tuesday, jeopardizing cooperation in the polar region at the sharp edge of global warming. With Arctic temperatures rising at twice the rate of the rest of the globe, the … [Read more...]
Pompeo: Russia and China Actions in Arctic Need Watching
By Simon Johnson ROVANIEMI, Finland, May 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that Russia is behaving aggressively in the Arctic and China's actions there had to be watched closely as well, amid growing divisions in the polar region over global warming and access to minerals. Speaking as he arrived in northern Finland for a meeting of nations with … [Read more...]
Iceland Builds Arctic Port as Global Shipping Routes Get Redrawn
By Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir (Bloomberg) -- As global warming creates shipping routes that can cut across the northern tip of the planet, a new port is being built on the fringe of the Arctic circle. Germany’s Bremenports GmbH has entered a deal to develop a deep vessel port together with Icelandic partners, according to a statement on Thursday. Bremenports will initially … [Read more...]