Monika SrivastavaAIR 16 · CSE 2025 · 236 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
The Arctic Region is experiencing "Arctic Amplification" due to global warming with its snow melting nearly two times faster than any other region in world.
Body · points
NEW WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
(I) Bio Resources (1) Fisheries and sea weed industry can benefit with more than 50
billion tonnes of fishery resources.
(2) Zombie Viruses and Bacteria → can be studied for better understanding of biodiversity and previous glaciation events.
(II) Non Bio Resources
(1) Energy - Arctic is a storehouse of crude oil, natural gas and coal → ensuring global energy security (e.g) Russia, Canada even have mines in Arctic
(2) Minerals - such as Iron, Tin, Copper etc - can be found abundantly. Critical Minerals could also be present.
(3) Strategic - New sea routes due to Arctic sea ice melting could enhance global trade.
(4) Territorial claims over land in Arctic
However, these opportunities come at a cost. (1) Arctic melting will reduce albedo and further amplify global warming.
(2) Threat posed by newly thawed microorganisms — potential for pandemic.
(3) Overexploitation and destruction of Arctic ecosystem.
(4) Oil spills could increase marine pollution in the region.
(5) Conflicts among countries over control on Arctic resources — unlike Antarctica, Arctic is not global common.
Way Forward → Negotiations among Arctic Council members. → India actively involving in discussions of Arctic Council.
Close · a framework
↓ Ensuring biodiversity protection.
These steps will lead us to SDG-13 : Life Under Water.
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