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Experts urge planning over development

Avoid free-for-all resource grab

By: Lindsey Wiebe

Posted: 07/24/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The worst-case scenario is a free-for-all Arctic resources grab. The best-case scenario puts planning first and development second.That's the verdict of an international group of researchers, policy experts and environmentalists gathered in Winnipeg to talk about the effects of climate change in the Arctic.

The Aspen Institute's Dialogue and Commission on Arctic Climate Change, held at the University of Winnipeg this week, included discussion on how to best manage development in already fragile northern ecosystems and the rights of indigenous people.

The Arctic is already dealing with retreating sea ice and unpredictable changes to the marine ecosystem, and could see "a rush of international commercial fishing interests" as a result, said Thomas Lovejoy, biodiversity chair of the Heinz Center environmental policy group.

U of W president Lloyd Axworthy, a member of the commission, said the Arctic is a "hot spot" for Canadians, especially those who call it home.

Climate change could spark changes in transportation, fisheries and resource development in the North, and how that development will happen is "still very much up in the air."

"How do you manage these changes?" he said. "How do you come to grips with this quite dramatic transformation that's going on, that has such an impact on so much of what we do?"

The Aspen Institute is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization, said David Monsma, who heads the institute's energy and environment program.

The climate change commission's goal is, in part, to "provide a vision for how you manage this incredibly fragile, important place," said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Beinecke said there is "tremendous urgency" to the group's work.

"We are out of time. We've already lost time," said National Geographic explorer-in-residence Sylvia Earle. "The next 10 years will really determine in a major way the future of civilization, what we do or what we fail to do."

Earle planned to join others in the group on a trip to Churchill today, weather permitting. Axworthy said the trip would include stops at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre and the Port of Churchill.

"The transportation issue is clearly very vital to this province, in fact to this country," he said.

WWF International director general James Leape said provinces like Manitoba are "already condemned to a significant impact from climate change."

"It's not too soon to begin the task of adaptation," he said.

Lovejoy said ideally, planned developments in the Arctic should be assessed before any work takes place. He said he would like to see marine resources left alone for now.

lindsey.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 24, 2009 A9

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