Arctic Sovereignty In Canada

The Arctic has a key role in Canada’s history and future, as 40% of Canada’s landmass composes of its three northern territories. Arctic Sovereignty has become a national priority for Canada in the 21st Century due to international interests, such as rapid industrialization, climate change and transportation. Therefore, the geopolitical importance of the Arctic has never been any greater than it is now.

First, global warming has an immense impact on Arctic Sovereignty as the rise of greenhouse gases thrive in Canada along with other countries. Within 20 years, the polar ice caps of the Arctic have melted twice as fast compared to before. The loss of Arctic ice can furthermore pose a threat to shipping, as navigating the Arctic becomes increasingly challenging. Finally, climate change threatens the extinction of numerous animal species, namely the polar bear. Hence, global warming poses a major challenge to Arctic Sovereignty and Canada along with other members in the Arctic Council must prevent it.

Additionally, Canada must negotiate with our neighbor, the United States to maintain Arctic Sovereignty. Canada and the US have been partners throughout history; therefore the same principles apply to Arctic Sovereignty. The US has recently been using the Arctic for military uses and is exerting increasing

To begin with, the Arctic Council is not a treaty-based organization that involves rules and regulations; rather it is a more of an informal body based on discussions and recommendations. Therefore, it is necessary for the Council to work on a specific goal and then decide the goal would require more than discussions, which could help create more productivity in the council. Furthermore, the Council would need to create a staff that can help prepare for meetings that bring the issues forward to member countries and permanent