Event: Arctic Seminar
Date: 31 October 2006
Venue: City Conference Centre, London
Further information: www.imarest.org
To register interest in attending: bev.mackenzie@imarest.org
The Arctic, the resource rich and strategically important area of the planet will come under the spotlight at the end of October when senior members of a range of sectors, including insurance, oil and gas, shipping, ports, defence, fisheries, tourism, environment and policy meet in London to look to the future of the region.
The one-day workshop, being held on 31 October at the City Conference Centre (the headquarters of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology - IMarEST) will see over a hundred key decision makers debating the sectoral priorities for data, information and knowledge to support improved understanding, management and regulation of the area north of 66° 33'N¹ .
"Global warming is amplified in the Arctic region," says Professor Ola Johanassen, Founding Director of the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, one of the compelling speakers at the seminar. "While the average global warming has increased by 0.6 degrees Celsius over the past hundred years, the surface temperature in the Arctic region has increased by double that amount. Furthermore, the drifting ice cover is melting at a rate of 3% per decade, while the thicker multiyear ice is meting at a rate of 7% per decade.
"The Arctic region is rich both in fisheries and oil and gas resources," he explains. "Estimates indicate that 20% of the remaining gas and oil resources are located in the Arctic region, but the hard climate and environmental restrictions are at present hampering these developments.
"In general, the impact of global warming is negative, but for the oil and gas sector as well as for other industrial activities, global warming may have a positive effect in the long term in the Arctic, because our predictions indicate that the Arctic Ocean will be ice free during the summer months by the end of this century. This will assist oil and gas exploration and production, as well as making the navigation season of the 'Northern Sea Route' longer. Therefore we can predict increased industrial activities in the Arctic region and more ship transport through the Northern Sea Route in coming years."
Lawson W. Brigham PhD, Chair, Arctic Council's Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (2005-2008) another speaker on 31 October suggests: "The Arctic Ocean is changing in unprecedented ways and increasing marine access to the Arctic's coastal seas will provide many opportunities as well as unique challenges," he says. "The eight Arctic states and the Arctic indigenous communities face an array of accelerated changes due to climate change and increasing economic activity, and they, along with a host of stakeholders from outside the Arctic, share an uncommon responsibility to pursue a path of sustainable development throughout the circumpolar world.
"Quite clearly, an ability to provide improved data and information to enhance marine safety and environmental protection of Arctic marine waters will be critical to the future, effective management and regulation of the Arctic Ocean. Advanced observing and monitoring networks, several hopeful 'legacies' of the International Polar Year (2007-2008), should carry us into mid-century by providing a greater understanding of the Arctic environment and its vulnerabilities."
The Arctic workshop is organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST); the Inter-Agency Committee for Marine Science and Technology (IACMST); and the Marine Information Alliance (MIA). The event is sponsored by the National Centre for Ocean Forecasting (NCOF), the Met Office, BP and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
"The Arctic Workshop organised by IMarEST is a very timely venue drawing a broad spectrum of interests to what will be a key discussion about the future information needs of a changing Arctic," explains Dr Lawson Brigham. "Addressing such emerging issues as offshore oil and gas development, increased shipping activities and an increase in tourism, the workshop can provide a highly useful 'snapshot' of current Arctic activity to decision-makers, planners and regulators."
Who should attend
“This is an event worthy of attendance by key decision makers,” says conference chairman, Dr Ralph Rayner. “We need input from the top echelon of each sector – it is vital that as a result of the workshop, and as we near the start of the International Polar Year in 2007, we make sound recommendations to help support decisions about the future of this unique area of our planet. By attending and taking an active part in discussions, attendees will be able to embrace a fuller understanding and appreciation of the information and resources available to assist in sustainable development of the Arctic”.
"The compelling plenary session will feature a science scene setting keynote address by Professor Ola Johanassen, Founding Director of the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, followed by Professor Jacqueline McGlade Executive Director of the European Environment Agency who will cover policy; Graham Thomas, Director of Arctic and Cold Regions Technology, BP Exploration who will review industry opportunities and challenges; Commander Phil Titterton OBE RN, currently serving with the Ministry of Defence, will look at defence operations past, present and future; and Dr Lawson Brigham, Chair, Arctic Council's Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (2005-2008) will be looking at the outlook for shipping."
Sector workshop sessions will then consider information needs and priorities and a summary discussion will bring together the findings to identify common themes.
Expressions of interest in attending the one-day free Arctic workshop should be sent to Dr Bev Mackenzie, Manager Marine Science, IMarEST, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2628; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2668. Email: bev.mackenzie@imarest.org
