Document of bibliographic reference 332348

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

The opening of the Transpolar Sea Route: logistical, geopolitical, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts

Abstract

With current scientific models forecasting an ice-free Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) in summer by mid-century and potentially earlier, a direct shipping route via the North Pole connecting markets in Asia, North America, and Europe may soon open. The Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) would represent a third Arctic shipping route in addition to the Northern Sea Route and Northwest Passage. In response to the continued decline of sea ice thickness and extent and growing recognition within the Arctic and global governance communities of the need to anticipate and regulate commercial activities in the CAO, this paper examines: (i) the latest estimates of the TSR's opening; (ii) scenarios for its commercial and logistical development, addressing the various transportation systems that could evolve; (iii) the geopolitics of the TSR, focusing on international and national regulations and the roles of Russia, a historic power in the Arctic, and China, an emerging one; and (iv) the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of transpolar shipping for local and Indigenous residents of communities along the TSR's entrances. Our analysis seeks to inform national and international policymaking with regard to the TSR because although climate change is proceeding rapidly, within typical policymaking timescales, there is still time to prepare for the emergence of the new Arctic shipping corridor.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000595872300018

Bibliographic citation

Bennett, M.M.; Stephenson, S.R.; Yang, K.; Bravo, M.T.; De Jonghe, B. (2020). The opening of the Transpolar Sea Route: logistical, geopolitical, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts. Mar. Policy 121: 104178. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104178

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true