ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

HighSeas

ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

Mission

To identify development and governance options that balance economic, social, and environmental interests in Arctic

coastal-marine systems through an international, interdisciplinary and inclusive process of data analysis.

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ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

Holistic defined as international, interdisciplinary and inclusive

Sustainability involves balance: Environmental protection, economic prosperity and social equity Needs of present and future generations National interests and common interests

Project addresses: Natural and Living Environment Built Environment Natural Resource Development Governance

Links SEARCH (Study of Environmental Change: www.arcus.org/search)and ACCESS (Arctic Climate Change, Economy and Society: www.access-eu.org) projects supported by the United States and Europe, respectively

3-year project began on 1 September 2013

Scope

ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

Environmental State-Change in the Arctic Ocean

Arctic Sea-ice Cap New Boundary = New System

Unprecedented Change over MillenniaRate of Change: Thickness > Extent

Winter: > 50% First-Year Sea IceSummer: > 50% Open Water

Inherent Risks of Instabilities •Political

•Economic•Cultural

•Environmental

ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

Involves infrastructure: fixed, mobile and other physical assets (includingobserving, communications and information systems) as well as regulatory, policyand other governance mechanisms (including insurance).

Sustainable Development Requires Balance

Environmental Protection, Economic Prosperity and Social EquityNeeds of the Present and Needs of the Future

National Interests and Common Interests

Nation State International Space

ARCTIC OPTIONSHolistic Integration for Arctic Coastal-Marine Sustainabilitywww.arcticoptions.org

National Interests Common Interests

“…important rights and obligations…”United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Signed: Montego Bay, Jamaica, 10 December 1982 Entered into Force: 16 November 1994Ratification, Accession or Succession: 155+ Nations