Editorial of the day (16th Apr): India’s Arctic Imperative

Context: India’s first winter expedition in the Arctic successfully concluded.

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• In December 2023, four Indian climate scientists arrived in Oslo to start acclimatising for India’s first winter expedition in the Arctic.
• The expedition was based at Himadri, India’s research station at the International Arctic Research Base in Svalbard, Norway.
• Previously, the station only hosted missions during the summer. The winter expedition involved challenges such as extreme cold (as low as -15 degrees Celsius) and enduring polar nights.

Reasons for the Shift in Indian Policy

• Scientific Data: Changed due to new data showing the Arctic warming faster than anticipated, and links between catastrophic climatic events in India and the melting of Arctic sea ice.
• Economic Interests: Interest in using the Arctic Sea routes, particularly the Northern Sea Route, to reduce costs and improve efficiency for Indian trade.
• Geopolitical Concerns: Concerns over China’s growing influence in the Arctic and Russia granting China expanded access to the Northern Sea Route, amidst heightened regional tensions influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Historical and Ongoing Indian Involvement

• India has been involved in the Arctic since signing the Svalbard Treaty in 1920.
• In 2007, India launched its first research mission in the Arctic, focusing on microbiology, atmospheric sciences, and geology (the only developing nation besides China).
• In 2008, India established its Arctic research base and was later granted ‘observer’ status by the Arctic Council in 2013.
• India set up a multi-sensor moored observatory in 2014 and an atmospheric laboratory in 2016 at Svalbard.

Domestic Divides and Economic Strategies

• Economic vs. Environmental Concerns: There is a division within India’s academic and policy circles regarding the implications of climate change in the Arctic for India, especially concerning mining for fossil fuels.
• Proponents argue for pragmatic economic exploitation in the Arctic.
• Sceptics caution against environmental damage and advocate for a balanced policy that considers the adverse impacts of maritime resource exploitation.

Potential for Collaboration with Norway

• India and Norway have collaborated since the late 1980s on researching the impact of Arctic and Antarctic changes on South Asia.
• Current Indian policy focuses on cooperation in green energy and clean industries.
• Collaboration with Norway could be transformative, enhancing India’s involvement in the Arctic Council’s working groups on issues like the blue economy and responsible resource development.
• India seeks to benefit from seabed mining and resource exploitation but faces the challenge of adopting a sustainable extraction approach.

Conclusion

• India’s Arctic Policy includes six pillars: scientific research, climate and environmental protection, economic and human development, transportation and connectivity, governance and international cooperation, and national capacity building.
• India aims to explore economic opportunities in the Arctic responsibly, with the help of Norway in designing sustainable policies.
• Constructive and non-sensitive approaches to addressing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic are deemed crucial for both India and Norway.

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