Seminar on Energy Security and Geopolitics in the Arctic: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century

Dates: 09 – 10 January 2012
Time:  9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: Temasek Room, Traders Hotel
Venue: Traders Hotel
             Temasek Room
             1A Cuscaden Road
             Singapore 249716

Organized by Energy Studies Institute, National Unversity of Singapore

Abstract:The melting of the Arctic ice cap is presenting a number of environmental, economic, geopolitical and energy-related challenges and opportunities both for its littoral states as well as the broader international community. First, the possibility of substantially rising sea levels stemming from the Arctic region’s warming is of great concern at the regional and the global levels. Second, if the ice continues to recede, the Arctic region’s immense resource potential (energy and otherwise), as well as the likely feasibility of new seasonal inter-continental maritime routes for trade, will be of obvious significance for state players, especially those in Europe, Asia and the Americas engaged in international trade. These two broad clusters of concerns have already contributed to disputes at least between some of the concerned states. More importantly, they are likely to continue to fuel tensions and conflicts over a wide array of interests between and among states and/or regional groupings.

To better understand the legal, political, energy, military/security and environmental stakes for the Arctic’s littoral states as well as the non-littoral states, the ESI is bringing together a group of experts with different experiences pertaining to the Arctic region. They include experts from the Arctic littoral states (Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and USA), the Greater Arctic region (Sweden, Finland and Iceland) and the major states and a regional grouping with an interest and a capability to engage in the Arctic (Australia, Japan, South Korea and European Union). Both general and country-specific issues of significance to the Arctic region will be covered at the conference.

For more details: http://www.esi.nus.edu.sg/eventitem/2011/12/12/energy-security-and-geopolitics-in-the-arctic-challenges-and-opportunities-in-the-21st-century