The Heat: Arctic natural resource race

The Heat

With warming seas creating new opportunities at the top of the world, nations are scrambling for a piece of the Arctic.

CCTV America’s Sean Callebs reports.

Below the ice and cold waters of the Arctic Ocean, there are hidden vast natural reserves: about 20 percent of global oil supplies, 30 percent of the planet’s natural gas and perhaps deposits of platinum, gold, tin and more.

Global climate change and warming oceans bring the potential for a bounty of opportunities and natural resources. Which is why the United States, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Denmark have all staked claims to the region.

The opening of the Arctic is a potential economic boon for companies, but with reward comes risk. There are concerns that more shipping traffic could lead to a disaster.

A panel of guests joined The Heat to discuss about the competition for Arctic riches:

  • In the Washington D.C. studio, Sean Callebs. He traveled extensively in the Arctic region for his CCTV documentary: “On Thin Ice.”
  • Also In the Washington D.C. studio, Sergey Aleksashenko. He served as the Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation and the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Central Bank. Aleksashenko is currently a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.
  • From Denmark, Erik Vilstrup Lorenzen. He’s the Arctic Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark and Danish Undersecretary of State for Arctic Affairs.
  • From Ottawa, Michael Byers. He teaches global politics and international law at the University of British Columbia. His most recent book is appropriately titled “International Law and the Arctic.”