Arctic Frontiers deliberations kick off in Tromso

The formal deliberations at the week-long Arctic Frontiers started on Monday in the northern Norwegian city of Tromso.

During the week, policymakers, academicians and businessmen from the member countries and observers of the Arctic Council as well as representatives from some regional and global organizations will give their views on the theme of the ninth Arctic Frontiers, "climate and energy."

Participants are expected to discuss and debate whether the oil and gas resources in the environmentally-fragile Arctic region should be explored at all.

Environmentalists demand a complete halt to the development of oil and gas energy in the region while industrialists argue in favor of further investment as planned.

The recent fall in the oil prices on the international markets, which were well below 50 U.S. dollars per barrel, provided both sides with a new dimension in their debate.

Due to the challenges from harsh natural conditions such as darkness and coldness, taking out oil and gas from the Arctic region is much more expensive.

In Norway, oil exploration is heavily subsidized by the government with 80 percent of the cost covered with public money.

Many suggest that the government should use the money to invest in renewable energy instead of pouring it into tapping the fossil energy in the region, which is regarded as the main source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

However, all agree that the energy mix of the foreseeable future will have a substantial fossil component even though greener energy sources are gaining more market shares.

The Arctic Frontiers conference, a central arena for discussions of Arctic issues, brings together representatives from science, politics, and civil society to share perspectives on how upcoming challenges in the Arctic may be addressed to ensure sustainable development. Endit