Description:

A symposium at the University of Illinois. Rapidly melting ice in the Arctic Ocean offers promising opportunities for enhanced international marine shipping through the Northwest Passage. But it has also raised the specter of tensions among various countries for access to corresponding transit routes and natural resources. This symposium will provide scientific background and consider the geopolitical implications of climate change and the opening of the Northwest Passage. Discussion will examine the observed effects of global warming on climate conditions in the region, and will cover positions and perspectives of key actors such as the European Union and its member states, Nordic countries, Russia, Canada, and the United States. Panelists will offer assessments of recent developments associated with this emerging issue, as well as analysis of projected impacts on global security, foreign policy, economics, international maritime law, and access to energy resources. Panelists: Michael Byers, Professor and Canada Research Chair, Political Science University of British Columbia; William Chapman, Senior Research Programmer, Atmospheric Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics Royal Holloway, University of London; Ingrid Lundestad, Research Fellow, Centre for Transatlantic Studies, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Organizers: European Union Center; Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS); Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center. Sponsors: Supported by grants to symposium organizers from the European Commission; US Department of Education (Title VI); and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Related Radio Interview: Symposium panelist Klaus Dodds will also appear on local National Public Radio station WILL-AM 580's listener call-in interview program "Focus 580" at 11 a.m. on Nov. 5. For information and to access the audio stream, go to http://will.illinois.edu/focus580/

For more information:

Call 333-7086, or visit http://acdis.illinois.edu/events/arctic-security

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