The geopolitical challenges to engage stakeholders into arctic climate change adaptation - military action and the challenges for an arctic citizenship

Abstract

Climate change adaptation in the Arctic is a powerful notion based on a challenging and impermanent reality of continuous complex interactions between the natural and social structures. The geophysical and geopolitical aspects of the Arctic system and the global context are naturally interlinked, and the human aspects of societal existence are even more integrated resulting in a range of collective opportunities, risks, and responsibilities as a civilization, as Arctic citizens, and as global citizens. Our analysis indicated that there are at least three key factors that stand in the way of the implementation of the Arctic climate agenda: 1) unresolved territorial and other disputes among Arctic coastal states, 2) the intensive (re)militarisation of the region (with Russia as a central player), and 3) noticeable economic dynamism, accompanied by strategic competition between key stakeholders - including non-Arctic states, such as China. The priorities for the region are still set by old-fashioned, mechanistic, political agendas, combined with unsustainable natural resources management strategies. Overall, our research indicates that the threat of climate change is not enough to mobilise the Artic nations under a sense of regional citizenship or to raise awareness on the need for a coordinated and inclusive climate change adaptation policy, based on Arctic cooperation.