Dugong & Seagrass Hub’s Post

In an era that the Chinese Ministry of Defense describes as "an all-domain confrontation," the Arctic's significance cannot be overstated. Its strategic military value, vast natural resources, critical environmental role, technological potential, and the delicate balance of international relations make it a region of both tremendous opportunity and considerable risk. As the epicenter of global warming and a repository of vast untapped energy, rare earth minerals, freshwater, protein sources, and space connectivity, the Arctic is rapidly emerging as a region of both possibilities and potential conflicts. Controlling this area could provide an alliance with a significant strategic advantage, in addition to the ultimate overheight, in any future combat scenario. Together with a team of Arctic experts at Arctic Advisory Associates, a company founded by Dr. Tim Reilly—a former academic at the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge and a senior Arctic/Polar advisor to the UK government—we will provide governmental and private entities with insights and competencies related to the region. Follow Arctic Advisory Associates for future updates! Website: https://lnkd.in/g6ZxsFdv

🔥 “Russia’s quest for #Antarctic oil turns out to be a little more complicated than some of those enthusiastic reports implied,” Prof Klaus Dodds wrote in The Spectator of some media coverage in the UK and US this week. “But they are fundamentally right in one regard: Russia is engaged in activities that challenge the norms, rules, and values of the much-lauded 1959 #AntarcticTreaty.” 🔥 Thanks to Prof Dodds for cutting through the noise with this incisive comment. How best to respond at the Antarctic Treaty consultative meeting in India this week? The Spectator article provides a judicious perspective. #ATCM46 As the South African investigative journalists who uncovered Russia's Antarctic oil/gas "research" activities for Daily Maverick, with our first publication in October 2021, and some 30 articles since, we can also share the following: (We have exhaustively published these sources in formal articles, such as: https://lnkd.in/d8iM_7Mf) 🧊 Rosgeo, in 2020, claimed there were potential oil/gas stocks in the Southern Ocean totalling 70 billion tons (about 500 billion barrels). Here: https://lnkd.in/danHhWA8 🧊 Rosgeo has, according to the multiple Russian state documents we have published (https://lnkd.in/d8iM_7Mf), offered no recoverability sources. 🧊 The Rosgeo statement and other science papers suggest the bulk of oil and gas potential is in East Antarctica's sedimentary basins. The statement also refers to West Antarctica. 🧊 Rosgeo has returned to West Antarctica's Weddell Sea to do "research" in territory under dormant claims by Argentina, Chile and the UK over six seasons since 2011. In 2011 (https://lnkd.in/dsd_gnkz); 2012 (https://lnkd.in/djKhctqf); 2016 (https://lnkd.in/dpgc577W); 2017 (https://lnkd.in/dArzaymC); 2018 (https://lnkd.in/dZzfAvpA) and 2022 (https://lnkd.in/dpqMi9t6). See our article here: https://lnkd.in/dXgJ23EV 🧊 The declared intent of the Weddell Sea work was legal scientific research and the assessment of the region's "mineral/oil and gas potential". Russia has stated its hydrocarbon interests many times: https://lnkd.in/d9wBn_Gs 🧊 Broadly, Russia insists its seismic surveys right around Antarctica are just science: https://lnkd.in/dBQxnJkq. It has also made geopolitical counterclaims: https://lnkd.in/dmdkraPn 🧊 Article 7 (Antarctica's mining ban) has NO expiry date. It outlaws mineral resource activities, but allows "scientific research". 🧊 Many visits to the Weddell Sea do not = vast reserves. They do indicate deep interest in that region's potential reserves. 🧊 The Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty has declined our repeated requests for comment. https://lnkd.in/dpwRuTY6

Tokenising and protecting the data related to Antarctic research and oil exploration could be a prudent step. By tokenising this data, it could be securely stored and verified, helping to safeguard against unauthorised access or tampering. This could be particularly important in maintaining the integrity of scientific research and ensuring that any resource extraction is done responsibly and in accordance with international agreements. It must be protected! https://lnkd.in/eVMnwY8p

Russia’s reported discovery of 510 billion barrels of oil in Antarctica has led to warnings of a new “Cold War” of sorts. “Russia could rip up a decades-old treaty and claim oil-rich Antarctic land,” Yahoo News told its readers. The Daily Telegraph said “Russia (has) sparked fears of an oil grab in British Antarctic territory.” Russia is a major polar player The reaction to the find — which was made in evidence submitted to Britain’s House of Commons Environment Audit Committee — suggested there was potential for conflict. Some of this alleged oil is thought to be in the Weddell Sea, a remote body of water that happens to be part of what the UK would term “British Antarctic Territory,” or, as their counterparts in Buenos Aires and Santiago would prefer to refer to it, the Argentine and Chilean Antarctic Territories. The prospect of Moscow eyeing up the possible resources of a portion of Antarctica claimed and counter-claimed by three other nations set alarm bells ringing. https://lnkd.in/gpDSc_qx

🌍 Battleground Antarctica: Melting Ice, Geopolitical Heat? 🚢 As the world's attention shifts towards the fragile ecosystems of Antarctica, recent revelations underscore the simmering tensions surrounding the region's future. In a gripping session at the UK House of Commons, Professor Klaus Dodds shed light on the alarming implications of Russian oil and gas surveys conducted via Cape Town, potentially challenging the Antarctic Treaty's mining ban. Amid escalating concerns, the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research convened to dissect the long-term ramifications of mining activities in this pristine wilderness. With ice melt paving the way for unprecedented access, questions loom over the efficacy of current conservation efforts and the commitment of signatory states to uphold the treaty's principles. 💡 Key Insights: 1. Despite the Madrid Protocol's staunch environmental safeguards, the specter of mineral exploitation looms large, fueled by geopolitical maneuvering and technological advancements. 2. Professor Dodds' testimony underscored the intricate legal landscape surrounding the treaty, including the contentious withdrawal clause slated for activation in 2048. 3. Recent reports of seismic surveys by Rosgeo, under the guise of scientific research, have reignited concerns about the exploitation of Antarctica's mineral wealth. As stakeholders grapple with these complex challenges, it's imperative to safeguard Antarctica's ecological integrity for future generations. Join the conversation and stay informed about the pivotal developments shaping the fate of Earth's southernmost frontier. #Antarctica #Geopolitics #EnvironmentalProtection #PolarResearch #ClimateChange #ConservationEfforts

Release of my latest research report titled "War-Torn Skies: Analyzing Carbon Monoxide Dynamics with a Focus on Kramatorsk During the Russia-Ukraine Conflict" on the occasion of World Environment Day! In this study, I delve into the environmental impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on carbon monoxide (CO) levels across Ukraine, leveraging satellite data. By comparing pre-war and wartime CO levels, my analysis reveals intriguing insights into the fluctuating dynamics of CO emissions, particularly accentuated around events such as the Kramatorsk railway station attack. The findings underscore the intricate interplay between armed conflicts and ecological dynamics, emphasizing the imperative of continuous monitoring to comprehend the broader environmental impacts of such conflicts. #gis #remotesensing #ukraine #russia

In case you missed it, this is a critical, quotable comment by the two most recent former heads of the US delegation to #AntarcticTreaty Consultative Meetings — Evan Bloom and William Muntean. The article, published by the Polar Journal AG, provides essential and authoritative insight into the US's updated policy on Antarctica. 🗺️ Why should you read it? Among others:  a) The US initiated the Antarctic Treaty, in force since 1961; 🇺🇸 b) The updated policy replaces the previous national strategy issued in 1994; 📜 c) This article will therefore be an NB reference for years to come. 📚 Here are 6 key takeaways that jumped out at me. (Note: I do not attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the article, these are merely points of interest.) 1️⃣ The new policy distinctly separates Antarctic and Arctic policies, acknowledging their differences. 2️⃣ The US reaffirms its long-standing policy of rejecting all sovereignty claims in Antarctica. Of course, critically, like Russia, the US maintains a "basis of a claim". 3️⃣ It does not reject the reality of great power competition, but downplays it, which is a sensible choice. 4️⃣ It supports a focus on civilian rather than military involvement. 5️⃣ The policy pledges to work with Congress to meet commitments on tourism and environmental liability; and modernise the polar icebreaker fleet: both overdue concerns. ❄️🚢 6️⃣ At the 2023 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Helsinki, Finland, the US led the reaffirmation of the mining ban "which does not expire in 2048 or any other year". Indeed, it considers the mining ban (prohibition on mineral resource activities) to be a cornerstone of Antarctic environmental protection. 🏔️ Read the full analysis, which is comprehensive but easy to follow, here: 🔗 [U.S. National Strategy Reinforces Commitment to Antarctic Treaty System](https://lnkd.in/dn5dey-Q)

Despite decades of #arctic #oilgas development, current US policy about the #arctic region does not prioritize new #energy exploration and development. #nationalsecurity and the #environment are the high-level priorities, and #climatechange is wrapped tightly into the national security concerns. Key Take-Aways: ❄ Modern US Arctic region policy was established via a 2009 National Security Presidential Directive. ❄ In 2013, Arctic oil and gas reserves were part of the “all the above” approach to building the domestic energy industry. ❄Accelerating climate change and strategic competition changed the game for Arctic policy. They turned emerging economic opportunities into potential risk drivers in an increasingly complex #geopolitical situation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gREP8hKv

Today is #WorldOceanDay, recognized by the United Nations since 2008 as a day of collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate. At C-Power, our business is #oceanenergy, which means every day is ocean day. We are committed to harvesting energy from the world's biggest and best battery responsibly. Not only is ocean energy a #zerocarbon source of #renewableenergy needed to help the world #decarbonize, our systems can also enable more environmentally responsible development of the #oceaneconomy. For example, C-Power's SeaRAY ocean energy system recently completed pre-deployment testing with the BioSonics Marine Life Observer (pictured below). When the SeaRAY is deployed at the US Navy's Wave Energy Test Site this summer, it will provide power and data for this #subsea data-gathering device that enables informed decisions that preserve the health of the ocean environment.

“Marine observatories should be cherished, and protected, as national and global assets.” - Professor Stephen Widdicombe Our Prof Widdicombe spoke today at the Marine Monitoring for Action (MMA) workshop, presenting the longest marine dataset in the world, the #WesternChannelObservatory (WCO). The vast and varied data and knowledge generated at the WCO allows us to better understand the causes and consequences of some of the largest #EnvironmentalIssues we are currently facing, such as #ClimateChange, #OceanAcidification, #BiodiversityLoss and #pollution. The WCO has a proven track record of supporting science and policy development, and is open-access - meaning that anyone can use the data. The MMA workshop has been organised by the National Marine Laboratory, St John's Island (SJINML) and Marine Environment Sensing Network (MESN), and has been officially endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade activity. #MarineScience #marineactionsg #mmaworkshop2024 #sjinml #mesn #oceandecade