Implications of climate change for shipping: Opening the Arctic seas

TLDR

The paper evaluates the value and environmental feasibility of Arctic shipping by reviewing relevant scientific and economic literature. It examines how climate change affects sea ice and marine weather, influencing Arctic shipping accessibility, and reviews economic studies on route feasibility, stakeholder attitudes, and other factors shaping Arctic shipping prospects. The review highlights research gaps and concludes that understanding Arctic shipping requires close collaboration between natural and social scientists due to its complex environmental and economic dynamics. The article is categorized under Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change.

Abstract

This paper assesses the value and environmental feasibility of Arctic shipping by reviewing the relevant scientific and economic peer‐reviewed literature. From the physical perspective, this paper examines the impact of climate change on sea ice and marine weather and considers the resultant consequences for Arctic shipping accessibility. From an economic perspective, it reviews the major research investigating the economic feasibility of diverting ships from conventional shipping routes to Arctic routes, the attitudes of shipping stakeholders, and other major factors affecting the prospect of Arctic shipping. This review also identifies important research gaps. Ultimately, we find that the complex environmental and economic dynamics of the Arctic suggest that an appropriate understanding of Arctic shipping will require close collaboration between natural and social scientists. This article is categorized under: Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change