Climate change shifting Arctic landscape: Hagel

Climate change is shifting the landscape in the Arctic more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said
"Climate change is shifting the landscape in the Arctic more rapidly than anywhere else in the world," Hagel said in his address at Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada yesterday.
"While the Arctic temperature rise is relatively small in absolute terms, its effect are significant, transforming what is a frozen desert into an evolving, navigable ocean, given rise to an unprecedented level of human activity," he said.
"Traffic in the northern sea route is reportedly expected to increase tenfold this year compared to the last year efforts," Hagel said.

"To fully appreciate what's happening in the Arctic and the world, we should take a step back and consider the many dynamic shifts occurring in the region and in the world," he said.
"Among them are the growing economic and geopolitical importance -- dynamics of the Asia-Pacific, conflict and instability across the Middle East and North Africa, the unprecedented diffusion of global economic power, new sources of and demand for energy, the rise of China, India, Brazil and other nations, environmental degradation and devastating natural disasters, and the role of technology in closely linking the world's people, their aspirations and their grievances," Hagel said.

The Defence Secretary said climate change does not directly cause conflict, but it can significantly add to the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty and conflict.

"Food and water shortages, pandemic disease, disputes over refugees and resources, more severe natural disasters all place additional burdens on economies, societies and institutions around the world," he said.
Hagel said planning for climate change in smarter energy investments not only makes US a stronger military, they have many additional benefits: saving money, reducing demand and helping protect the environment.
"These initiatives all support President Obama's climate action plan, which outlines how the United States will work with the international community in addressing these serious global challenges," he said.

Hagel said over the long term, as global warming accelerates, Arctic ice melt will lead to a sea level rise that will likely threaten coastal populations around the world, but it also could open up a transpolar sea route, a possibility that has been discussed since the USS Nautilus made its historic submerged crossing of the North Pole many years ago.