Heating up? The Geopolitics of the Arctic

The United Kingdom is the nearest neighbour to the Arctic region, which is central to British security interests and the wider North Atlantic. Yet, the rise of the People's Republic of China and its self-declared status of being the near-Arctic state, Russian militarization of the Arctic waters, ongoing geopolitical tensions between Russia, the United States and China are all entangling the Arctic in a renewed geopolitical competition. Arctic territories and resources are becoming more and more contested, whereas climate change is continuously stimulating a substantial change in the natural environment.

The Integrated Review, published last year, noted that through its role as a State Observer to the Arctic Council, the UK should contribute to maintaining the region as one of high cooperation and low tension, retain a significant contribution to Arctic science, focused on understanding the implications of climate change and commit to working with its partners to ensure that increasing access to the region and its resources is managed safely, sustainably and responsibly.

Watch James Gray MP - Member of the Environmental Audit Committee, Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Richard Nugee - Non Executive Director for Climate Change in Defence , and Professor Dame Jane Francis - Director of the British Antarctic Survey, as they discuss how the UK, together with its allies and partners, can ensure that the Arctic remains secure, sustainable and prosperous.Panellists

Prof. Dame Jane Francis
Director of the British Antarctic Survey
Jane is Director of the British Antarctic Survey, a research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (UKRI-NERC). She is involved with international polar organisations, such as the Antarctic Treaty and European Polar Board, and on several advisory boards of national polar programmes.

James Gray MP
Member of the Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons
James Gray has served as MP for North Wiltshire since 1997 and was appointed Shadow Minister of Defence in 2001. He has served with distinction on a variety of House of Commons committees including the Defence Select Committee. He is currently on the Environmental Audit Committee and Chair of the APPG on Polar Regions.

Lt. Gen. (rtd.) Richard Nugee
Non Executive Director for Climate Change in Defence
Prior to his work on sustainability, he spent 4 years as Chief of Defence People. His military career of 36 years includes joint, single service and international appointments. .Richard was appointed as Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Sustainability in March 2021. Before this appointment he spent a year leading on the Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach at the Ministry of Defence.