Due to climate change, the polar ice caps, are melting at an alarming rate. The untapped oil, gas and mineral resources like gold, silver, iron and most importantly diamonds situated in the Arctic region are quickly changing its geo-strategic importance and can potentially affect international stability including European security interests.

The receding polar ice has made this region very attractive for fishers and opened up new sea routes for trade like the Northwest Passage and the Arctic Bridge thereby making it an important area of interest. Though the melting of both ice caps is a cause of concern for many, for the "big players" such as the coastal states (Russia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and the US), it is however a great opportunity to claim the sovereignty over the region.

The race for North Pole resources is already underway. In August 2007, during an expedition by a Russian Arktika submarine, a Russian flag was planted on the seabed of the North Pole and created alarm among other nations eyeing Arctic resources as well. The US termed it as a "land grab" while the Russian government is still planning to send warships to patrol Arctic waters. In May 2008, governments of Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States released the Ilulissat Declaration regarding the issue of Arctic sovereignty, thus committing themselves to the protection and preservation of the fragile marine environment of the Arctic under existing legal framework. There is definitely a race for North Pole resources but what is even more interesting is that all the countries concerned want to resolve this issue under an existing legal framework rather than create a new one.

EU leaders increasingly recognize climate change as a fundamental challenge and preparing for greater coordination of the EU foreign and security policies and institutions. In June 2007, the High Representative and the European Commission pointed out in a joint report seven key concerns related to climate change: conflict over resources, disappearance of coastal cities and critical infrastructure, loss of territory and border disputes, environmentally-induced migration, situations of fragility and radicalisation, tension over energy supply, and pressure on international governance. The report further argues that climate change is not just a threat in itself - it is "a threat multiplier which exacerbates existing trends, tensions and instability." Addressing those threats are an important part of EU's preventive security policy. The report also identifies vulnerable regions like the Arctic which can directly or indirectly threaten European security. In November 2008, the European Commission released a communication entitled ‘The European Union and the Arctic Region' which marked an important first step towards an EU Arctic policy, identifying environmental and geopolitical challenges.

Though many global players are trying to get hold on Arctic resources, there seems a consensus among them to safeguard the bio-diversity of the region. Ecological change in the Arctic arising from the combined effects of climate change and development will have significant regional and global consequences. Some of them are already visible. These changes go far beyond the financial capacity of any single northern nation to mitigate adequately. Cooperation among nations is essential to safeguard the bio-diversity of the Arctic. Therefore, the Arctic's future will be determined by the collective action of the world community. The EU will play a key role not only to secure its geo-strategic interests but also to safeguard the fragile eco-system of the Arctic.

Shakti Prasad Srichandan is a senior PhD Scholar at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Related Materials from the Atlantic Community:

• Lev Voronkov: Russia is No Longer a Predatory Soviet Power
• Ingrid Lundestad: Will the US Become More Active in the Arctic?
• Paal Sigurd Hilde: Norway and the Arctic: The End of Dreams?

The Arctic region has topped the agenda at atlantic-community.org last  week with the Theme Week. We invite you to participate to the final Atlantic Memo and write some more comments here.