The Arctic melt

A wake up call, NOT a business opportunity!

DOCUMENTATION

WATCH THE RECORDED STREAM

PRESENTATIONS

Nils Andreas - Masvie Arctic Resource Development Understanding and managing the risks
Antoine Kedzierski - The environmental impact of increased shipping activities in the Arctic: the case of black carbon
Nicolas Fournier - The Arctic - Regulating business to protect the last frontier

In 2010 the Canadian Arctic experienced its warmest year on record. At the end of 2012, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that the Arctic Sea ice is at record low. Suddenly the area's resources- oil, gas, iron ore, uranium, even diamonds- have never seemed so accessible. Energy and mining companies are now descending on the north, viewing the melt as a big business opportunity.

But are those really worth the risks? Do we really want to continue investing in fossil fuels while it has been proven that those are the main cause of global warming? What lessons should we really draw from the Arctic melt? This Greens/EFA conference aims at taking a closer look at the climate impacts in the region, give the chance to both investors and green groups to give their opinion on offshore drilling and finally look at what the role of the EU really is in the region.

PROGRAMME

9.30 - Introduction by Satu Hassi MEP

9.45 - 10.30 Moderated by Bas Eickhout MEP

I. Ice cap melt - Consequences of climate change -

Prof. Peter Wadhams - Professor of Ocean Physics, and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
John Patrick Crump, Senior Advisor - Climate Change, GRID-Arendal Polar Centre

10.30 - 11.15 Moderated by Michèle Rivasi MEP

II. Business opportunity in the Arctic - understanding the risks

Nils Andreas Masvie - Vice President Russia & Kazakhstan, Det Norske Veritas
Antoine Kedzierski - Policy Officer - transport air pollution and EU transport infrastructure issues - T&E
Nicolas Fournier - Policy advisor - Oceana

11.15 - 12.30 Moderated by Indrek Tarand MEP

III. What role for the EU in the Arctic?

Zuzanna Bieniuk Policy officer responsible for the EU Arctic Policy the EU External Action Service
Joris Den Blanken EU climate & Energy policy director- Greenpeace European Unit

12.30 Conclusion by Yannick Jadot MEP