Lecture
This lecture explores the opening of the Arctic to commercial shipping, focusing on the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage. It covers the historical context, present-day activities, importance of trans-Arctic sea routes, winners and losers in global trade, environmental risks, determining factors for shipping operators, projected traffic build-up, climate feedback effects from ship engines, and the economic gains and losses from Arctic trade. The instructor discusses how the Arctic's changing climate affects navigation, trade costs, and environmental sustainability.