“Economic growth, shipping lanes, access to resources,” Henriksen said. “Vast amounts of oil, gas, timber, minerals, fresh water – everything the growing world will demand more of.”

Nearly 90% of all global trade goes by sea. A polar journey would reduce that trip by one-third, making an ice-free Arctic an attractive potential shipping route. But increased ship traffic through this environmentally sensitive region create nightmare scenarios of uncontrollable oil spills in the long, dark Arctic winter.

Many of these issues are discussed at the eight-nation Arctic Council which includes Norway and the United States. However, a number of speakers emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Norway and Alaska.

“Norway is an old country, established, mature, diversified,” said Alice Rogoff publisher of the Alaska Dispatch. “When it comes to the Arctic, we are beginners, we are in preschool and you’re all at the college level.”

Alaska is looking for ideas, inspiration, new ways of thinking, Rogoff said. “Alaska has lots to learn from Norway.”

The Arctic has many special challenges, Henriksen said. It’s dark and cold, it has violent storms, not much infrastructure, a sparse population and it’s far from population centres. Its environment is fragile, “as are cultures and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples.”

Samuel Heins is the U.S. Ambassador to Norway. He said his government wants to see “sustainable, responsible economic development … Development is coming and it must be managed and managed soundly.”

Björn Alfthan and Hanna Gjerdi

John Crump

by John Crump