Global warming could lead to more Arctic energy

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The Arctic offers new energy and fishing resources as a result of global warming and new technology, the European Union said on Thursday.

Melting ice also presented new navigation possibilities such as a short route to the Pacific Ocean, the EU executive said.

The rapid recession of sea ice, snow cover and permafrost were helping to accelerate global warming and the loss from the Greenland ice sheet would bring a swift rise in sea levels, it said in a paper.

States should develop a coordinated approach to the Arctic to ensure the EU was well placed to take advantage and to help minimize the damage from increased human activity, it said.

The EU should work particularly with Russia and Norway to facilitate environmentally friendly energy exploitation.

Reuters