Arctic Transportation Infrastructure Workshop

Arctic Transportation Infrastructure:
Response Capacity and Sustainable Development in the Arctic
3-6 December 2012 • Icelandair Hotel Natura • Reykjavik, Iceland

Increased resource extraction to support economic and community development and increased shipping traffic through Arctic waters have resulted in the corresponding need for an increased capacity to respond by sea and air. Arctic ports and airports serve as an important base for response, acting as a gateway to support SAR, resource extraction and development activities, pollution prevention and environmental safety, and community health and security.

The Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group approved a project during the Swedish Chairmanship (co-led by the United States and Iceland) to assess transportation infrastructure. The Arctic Marine and Aviation Transportation Infrastructure Initiative (AMATII) seeks to evaluate Northern infrastructure – ports, airports, and response capability – by inventorying maritime and aviation assets in the Arctic.

As part of this project, the Institute of the North hosted an Arctic transportation infrastructure workshop 3-6 December at the Icelandair Hotel Natura in Reykjavik, Iceland, with the theme, “Response Capacity and Sustainable Development in the Arctic.” Participants included policy makers and government officials; aviation and marine subject matter experts from the private, public, independent and academic sectors.

Arctic experts met in both plenary and work sessions to discuss infrastructure vis-à-vis response, technology and investment. Case studies and illustrative stories of northern aviation and marine infrastructure - contributed by participants – highlighted the challenges of infrastructure development in the Arctic and its role in facilitating sustainable development.

Participants viewed and commented on the Arctic Port and Airport Database and web-based map, aprimary deliverable of this project. Subject matter expert input will help refine and strengthen this tool.

The workshop ended with an interactive plenary session to discuss next steps and areas of consideration for the Guidance Document, a final deliverable for this Arctic Council project.