6. Sustainable Development Considerations in the Arctic

The Arctic region is affected by climate change through accelerated melting of snow, ice and permafrost. The consequences include biodiversity loss, disruption to ecosystems, migrating fish stocks, coastal erosion, land use changes and global sea level rise. Some of the drivers of change are global mega trends beyond the control of the Arctic states, such as population growth and growing demand for natural resources, the state of the world economy, changing trade patterns, commodity prices or global climate change. International cooperation is needed to address the global drivers, but when it comes to ensuring sustainable development in the Arctic, most of the responsibility lies with the Arctic states as most of the economic activities take place on their land or in their coastal waters. Large-scale economic activities have been taking place for decades, through extraction of natural resources, fisheries, shipping or forestry. However, the Arctic environment is still considered clean not least due to the relatively low level of human activities this far. But with an increase in human activities – coupled with other stressors – action is needed to safeguard the environment, to ensure a sustainable development and maintaining the ecosystem services that the region provides for the local population as well as for the globe as such. Creating job opportunities and allowing for industrial activities are not incompatible with safeguarding a sustainable development as long as the necessary measures are in place to protect the environment and to avoid accidental effects from increased exploitation of the living and non-living resources.