Pathways through permafrost : lessons from Arctic shipping, ocean technology, and environmental stewardship for the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean
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Editor
Horacio Werner, Patricia Cavalcanti and Mariano Aguas
Description
Climate change is having a significant impact on Earth’s polar regions; effective mitigation measures are urgently needed. The integration of cutting-edge ocean observation technologies, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and gliders, will play a pivotal role in enhancing real-time understanding of ice dynamics, water properties, and ecosystem conditions. When embedded within maritime operations, these technologies contribute significantly to risk reduction and the sustainable navigation of increasingly trafficked Arctic routes. As ice levels in the Arctic (and the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica) continue to decline, it is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy that demand for icebreakers will intensify in the coming years, as maritime traffic is expected to increase in those (still quite frozen and treacherous) regions. Rel- evant findings from the “Future Ocean Programme” of the Sasaka- wa Global Ocean Institute of the World Maritime University (WMU) further emphasize the need for a blueprint for emerging ocean technologies, one that addresses legal, geopolitical, safety, data, and financial challenges, while also taking into account risks such as operational autonomy and accountability for these systems, their ecological impact on marine life, liability gaps, fragmented ocean data, and the development of a unified global ocean gover- nance framework. Importantly, lessons from both the Arctic and the Antarctic can provide complementary insights into how humanity manages global commons such as the high seas and polar oceans, ensuring environmental protection while enabling responsible innovation and navigation.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6088367
Start Page
304
End Page
336
ISBN
978-631-90897-9-0
Publication Date
2026
Publisher
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
City
Buenos Aires
Keywords
climate change, arctic shipping, Antarctic Ocean, Southern Ocean
Disciplines
Climate | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Policy | Transportation