The Arctic is melting. Year after year the amount of Arctic ice decreases due to climate change. The American space organisation NASA expects that the Arctic ice will be completely melted by 2100. The Arctic will then only consist of ice during each winter time.

The opening of the Arctic leads to a lot of new questions and challenges. Opportunities for one, threats for another. One can think of for example new shipping routes. The biggest challenge from an environmental perspective, however, concerns the new possibilities for oil and gas development. The Arctic holds the world’s largest remaining untapped gas reserves and some of its largest undeveloped oil reserves. These reserves are worth billions of euros. The closest surrounding countries already claim parts of the territory and prepare themselves to cross swords.

It is high time for a thorough, but for the broad public easily accessible analysis by one of the biggest experts in this regard: Prof. dr. Alexander Vylegzhanin. Professor Vylegzhanin is head of the International Law Department within the renown Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Russia. He is specialised in international law concerning the Arctic.

Who claims what and who is entitled to what? Is this a source for a new international conflict? Are there already concrete projects taking place? What is the potential impact on the environment? Professor Vylegzhanin will thereby also highlight specifically the policy of Russia.

PhD student Urshulya Moscwa will add a brief presentation on the issue of transboundary pipelines in the Arctic.

The lecture will be in English.

Entrance is free, but we kindly ask you to register.