Newsletter: Climate Change Leads to New Rules

Hooper Bay

The storms are hitting Alaska's population more frequently. The remnants of Pacific Typhoon Merbok reached coastal Alaska on Friday, resulting in devastation and flooded streets in Hooper Bay, Nome, Alaska. (Photo: Ervin Chayalkun)

It is windy in the Arctic, in more ways than one. Climate change is wreaking havoc in Alaska and Russia is practicing defense in the North, as well as upgrading their bases and radar stations. 

Next week, Editor-in-Chief Arne O. Holm was supposed to travel to Nome, Alaska, but his plans were changed. Climate change put a stop to the trip to the roadless gold mining town where a powerful storm hit Alaska's western coastline last weekend. 

Warming oceans as a result of climate change contributed to the storm’s severity, says researchers. 

Increased presence 

 There is no doubt that the Arctic is an important area for Russia, and less sea ice also means that it is now possible to sail in areas that were previously inaccessible for large parts of the year. 

The Russian Pacific Fleet recently carried out several missile launches in the Arctic Ocean north of the Bering Strait to practice the defense of the Russian Arctic. 

For the past decade, Russia has systematically expanded and strengthened its Arctic military through a combination of bases, airfields, and large-scale radar installations, as well as defensive and offensive weapons systems. 

HNN's journalist Malte Humpert takes us along on a thorough analysis of Russia's military capacities in the Arctic in light of the Ukraine war using satellite images and interviews with military experts. 

How will the war in Ukraine affect Russia's capabilities in the region and what challenges do Norway and its allies face in the Arctic? 

Also last week, NATO conducted an air operation partly over Nordland county with Norwegian, American, and Turkish participation. Joint exercises with Finnish fighter planes were also carried out.

 "The High North is a prioritized area for the alliance," says the Chief of the NAOC at Reitan. 

Better connectivity 

 With satellites in a highly elliptical orbit above the North Pole, Space Norway's program will provide broadband coverage throughout the Arctic from 2024. 

"This contributes to show that Norway is serious about its High North Policy," says the program director in the state-owned company. 

Thank you for following us and feel free to share the newsletter, 

Trine Jonassen, News Editor 

This newsletter has been translated by HNN's Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen

Tags