Newsletter: The Arctic opens up as consequences slowly appears

Did Corona really loosen its iron grip on the world? Can the vulnerable High North finally draw a sigh of relief and think ahead? That remains to be seen. What we do know, is that the pandemic will have consequences for the future, amongst others in food production. And perhaps we have learned something too?

The Corona crisis has demonstrated how many processes there are behind the logistics needed for bringing what we need to grocery shops here in Norway, according to PhD candidate at the High North Centre for Business and Governance, Johannes Schmied.

To the EU’s recently appointed Ambassador at Large to the Arctic, who started off in his new job working from home in Brussels since 1 April an has not seen anyone but his family since then, the lesson in the aftermath of the crisis is about cooperation:

“EU member states are stronger together, and we will keep that in mind going forward. I believe we will think differently about our resources. In particular in the Arctic, which is so rich in them.”

Economic consequences

And our Editor-in-Chief Arne O. Holm? He has learned to close his ears to the never-ending stream of economic fortunetellers in suits (yes, because they are mostly men) who trickle out from

Tided of the fortunetellers in suits: Editor in Chief of High North News, Arne O. Holm

every modestly relevant institution to provide the world with their unqualified guesses.

However, one of the experts who actually does know what he is talking about, is the Chair of the Arctic Economic Council, Heidar Gudjonsson. He is honestly concerned about the economic consequences of Covid-19: “If globalization slows down, the impact is felt twice as hard in the Arctic.”

While the rest of the Arctic is easing up in relation to the Arctic, we regret to observe the contrary in Russia. This week, Editor-in-Chief Arne O. Holm was interviewed about High North News’ thorough covering of Corona in the High North. He could report about a powerful outbreak of Covid-109 at a psychiatric hospital in Arkhangelsk.

Ice edge zone moves south

Den gule linjen er iskanten Greenpeace og de miljøfaglige instansene vil ha. Dersom den blir vedtatt ligger åtte oljelisenser innenfor iskantsonen. Rød linje viser isfrekvens på 30 prosent av aprildagene 1967-1989, mens grønn linje viser isfrekvens på 30 prosent av aprildagene 1988-2017. (Foto: Norsk olje og gass)

However, the Arctic human’s facing the virus is not the only battle for survival in the High North. In the Barents Sea, there is currently a battle about the ice edge zone, where polar ice meets the open ocean, an area teething with life. Life that may be lost with disastrous consequences if the zone moves north. The verdict of the Norwegian government fell today, and at the time of writing, sources tell the media that the zone is to be drawn a little bit further south than where it is today.

While the ice edge one is hotly debated in Norway, Russia is working diligently on keeping the Northeast Passage ice free, and its new icebreaker will e twice as powerful as the one they have today.

Have a great weekend and do not forget to tell us what goes on in your Arctic! 

Trine Jonassen
News Editor, High North News