Paradise Lost? The Arctic and Sustainable Development—Is It Possible?

Dear Colleagues,

We are all aware of what rapidly is going on around us regarding climate change and its effects on the Arctic. We know that, during the last two decades, surface air temperature has increased in the Arctic at more than double the global average. The important role of the anthropogenic part in the increases in greenhouse gases as driving factors is clear and there is a high confidence in further Arctic warming. A number of recent events and observations from the Arctic indicate new extremes in the Arctic climate system both for the longtime scale, annual scale and at the daily weather event scale. Dramatic Arctic summer sea ice loss over the past 15 years and all Arctic winter sea ice maxima of the last 4 years were at record low levels relative to 1979–2014. Glaciers and permafrost are melting, active layers are deepening, coastal erosion is accelerating, forest fires are increasing, etc.

All this is happening while the Arctic is facing its most rapid development ever. This is a development in energy and mineral resources, fishery, sea transport, infrastructure, tourism, etc. Parts of this development is following climatic changes, and some is independent of it. All over the arctic, there is a need for, and often expressed, overarching goals for environmental protection aiming at preserving distinctive wilderness and nature. On the basis of its internationally important natural and cultural heritage, the Arctic needs much more knowledge and input in order to meet all the challenges. There are many complicated political considerations involved—considerations that must often be prioritized in conflicts between environmental protection and development interests.

It is almost imperative that flora, fauna, and cultural monuments that deserve protection remain untouched and natural ecological processes and biological diversity be allowed to develop, virtually unaffected by the new development. But how do we meet these challenges and help the changes to be as positive and as sustainable as possible?

We cannot be naïve and demand essentially untouched natural areas all over the Arctic, but at least we can fight for the protection of areas that meet the need for reference areas for climate and environmental research.

Still, we know one thing—more observations and more research are needed.

This Special Issue of Sustainability will focus on these and other issues involved in research regarding the knowledge needed for the sustainable development of the Arctic environments. It involves all various disciplines and inter- and multidiscipline approaches. Observations and monitoring of basic physical processes, ecological studies, and longtime monitoring at representative or unique sites and local areas, but also involving the positive and negative impacts from development on indigenous inhabitants and their culture. Both conceptual and case-based papers are welcome. Examples of contents include but are not limited to:

• The Arctic environment, development, and climate change—examples and threats for a sustainable development and future.
• The fragile Arctic terrestrial, limnological, fluvial and marine ecosystems.
• Threats to the biodiversity in the Arctic environments.
• Monitoring changes in the Arctic environment at general, local representative or unique sites.
• Coastal changes and climate change in the Arctic.
• Changes and development of physical processes and climate change in the Arctic environment.
• Economic and infrastructure development in sensitive Arctic environments
• Positive and/or negative impacts of tourism in the Arctic environment.
• Focal points of administration and international cooperation in the Arctic.

Prof. emer. Jonas Åkerman
Guest Editor

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