Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World

The report examines the intersection of climate change, national security, and sovereignty in the Arctic, focusing on Canada's strategic position. It notes that receding ice is opening new shipping lanes and resource opportunities, leading to increased military posturing among littoral states. While Canada has increased defence spending and planned infrastructure like the Diefenbaker icebreaker and bases at Resolute Bay and Nanisivik, the report argues that 'hard military power' is insufficient. Instead, it recommends that Canada leverage 'soft power' by leading in Arctic environmental management, engaging indigenous and northern communities in decision-making, and updating its Northern Foreign Policy to reflect current geopolitical realities.

• The 2008 Ilulissat Declaration saw the five Arctic coastal states—Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States—commit to the legal framework of the 1994 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to ensure the "protection and preservation of the fragile marine environment of the Arctic Ocean".
• Canada faces significant gaps in its Arctic military and rescue capacity, characterized by a "small and aging" icebreaking fleet, search-and-rescue capabilities based in the south, and a lack of oil-spill response equipment in the North.
• Climate change is increasing the accessibility of untapped natural resources, with the U.S. Geological Survey estimating the Arctic as the "largest source of untapped oil on the planet" and Arctic Canada believed to hold "12 to 15 per cent of the worlds diamonds by value".
• Canada's indigenous and northern communities were excluded from the Ilulissat talks, despite the fact that Canadian claims to the Northwest Passage are based on the "continued presence of our northern communities in the region".
• The report suggests Canada can reinforce its sovereignty by becoming a world leader in environmental stewardship, specifically by establishing more protected areas and National Marine Conservation Areas in the Arctic to protect biodiversity.
• There is a diplomatic conflict between Canada and the United States regarding the Northwest Passage; Canada claims it as territory to control traffic for security and environment, while the U.S. believes it "should be open to international traffic".
• The report recommends that Canada update its Northern Foreign Policy and reinstate the Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, a position eliminated in 2006, to better translate the needs of northern communities into circumpolar policies.

APA

Crawford, A., Hanson, A., & Runnalls, D. (2008). Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/arctic_sovereignty.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec, Arthur Hanson, and David Runnalls. Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/arctic_sovereignty.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |last2=Hanson |first2=Arthur |last3=Runnalls |first3=David |title=Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=November 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/arctic_sovereignty.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2008arctic, author = {Crawford, Alec and Hanson, Arthur and Runnalls, David}, title = {{Arctic Sovereignty and Security in a Climate-changing World}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/arctic_sovereignty.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }