Environment
The US and other nations are eager to exploit the Arctic’s mineral wealth, but despite the thawing of ice and permafrost, accessing buried treasure in the region remains extremely challenging
A liquefied natural gas plant in Sabetta, Russia
Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images
The Arctic is warming almost four times faster than the global average, transforming the frozen landscape at an astonishing rate. While devastating for wildlife and communities that live there, governments and businesses spy an opportunity.
The region is rich in resources, including untapped fossil fuel reserves and critical minerals necessary for the energy transition. Arctic nations have jostled for control of these resources for decades, and some exploitation – mostly fossil fuel extraction in the Russian Arctic – is already underway.
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