Predicting the Future of the Arctic Region | CIRRICQ Annual Conference

Predicting future developments remains one of the most difficult tasks in natural or social sciences. Although challenging, this exercise is necessary, particularly when analyzing regions undergoing significant changes. The Arctic region is a compelling example, notably affected by global warming and worldwide geopolitical developments.

We know that Arctic sea ice is melting rapidly and that this phenomenon will have numerous geopolitical, environmental, and commercial impacts. We can therefore question the implications this reality will have on human activities in the region (navigation, infrastructure, resources, etc.), and necessarily on the social and environmental responsibility incumbent upon various stakeholders (governments, businesses, communities, etc.) called upon and involved in Arctic issues. This major problematic is also part of the current reconfiguration of international power relations that affect this vast region.

Although many predictions, often alarmist or catastrophic, make headlines, painting a simplistic portrait of an Arctic prey only to conflicts and covetousness, the reality is much more complex, and nuances are necessary to properly grasp the multiple possibilities that the region faces.

This annual CIRRICQ conference, organized by OPSA in collaboration with the Institut nordique du Québec and the North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network, will bring together experts and practitioners from the Arctic region to paint a picture of the different issues, questions, and avenues emerging in the region. Navigation, natural resources, regional institutions, security, sovereignty, trade, relations with local populations, climate issues, connectivity, governance, etc. will be addressed to reflect on Arctic perspectives that will appear on the horizon. And we will attempt to answer this complex question: What "Arctic" can we expect in 2030, or even 2040?