Arctic Conflict Position Paper
Committee: Disarmament and Social Council
Topic: Prevention of building up of conflict in the arctic region
Country: Federal Republic of Austria
School: Step by Step International School, Jaipur.
As the temperature of the Earth rises quite quickly, so does the speed at which this storehouse of minerals, oils, and potential source of energy thaws: The Arctic. The USGS found that the region has an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, 1,670 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of technically recoverable natural gas liquids. And with the conflicts arising with the Arab states, the importance of the natural resources here will grow in importance economically and scientifically. As of now, the Russian Arctic is of a large economic significance to the Russian Federation, as all the Oil that is being drilled now, accounts for 40% of Russia’s GDP, but at the same time, the Siberia Reserves are slowly drying out, and Oil Giants like Shell are trying their best to penetrate through the economic, environmental, legal, and governmental walls of the Arctic. Currently, no country governs the Arctic region, but According the UNCLOS, Countries can claim seas 200 miles from their shores, and to extend that, they need to show scientific proof of the seabed being an extension of the continental shelf. There are currently 5 countries present in the Arctic geographically: USA (Alaska), Canada, Denmark, Norway & Russia.
The Arctic region is already buzzing with military activity, as troops from various countries set up camps, battling the harsh cold, whilst the world awaits a new kind of cold war of the 21st century which may occur anytime; As people wait for the opening of the previously inaccessible ice for natural gas, oil, potential hydroelectricity, and economically the strongest, the opening up of sea routes. There is heavy militarisation by the 5 arctic countries as well as the world’s
Topic: Prevention of building up of conflict in the arctic region
Country: Federal Republic of Austria
School: Step by Step International School, Jaipur.
As the temperature of the Earth rises quite quickly, so does the speed at which this storehouse of minerals, oils, and potential source of energy thaws: The Arctic. The USGS found that the region has an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, 1,670 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of technically recoverable natural gas liquids. And with the conflicts arising with the Arab states, the importance of the natural resources here will grow in importance economically and scientifically. As of now, the Russian Arctic is of a large economic significance to the Russian Federation, as all the Oil that is being drilled now, accounts for 40% of Russia’s GDP, but at the same time, the Siberia Reserves are slowly drying out, and Oil Giants like Shell are trying their best to penetrate through the economic, environmental, legal, and governmental walls of the Arctic. Currently, no country governs the Arctic region, but According the UNCLOS, Countries can claim seas 200 miles from their shores, and to extend that, they need to show scientific proof of the seabed being an extension of the continental shelf. There are currently 5 countries present in the Arctic geographically: USA (Alaska), Canada, Denmark, Norway & Russia.
The Arctic region is already buzzing with military activity, as troops from various countries set up camps, battling the harsh cold, whilst the world awaits a new kind of cold war of the 21st century which may occur anytime; As people wait for the opening of the previously inaccessible ice for natural gas, oil, potential hydroelectricity, and economically the strongest, the opening up of sea routes. There is heavy militarisation by the 5 arctic countries as well as the world’s