The New Arctic: A Thawed Diamond

This week on Sea Change Radio we begin a two-part series on the Arctic. If you’re looking for present-day observable impacts of global warming, head North, where the melting of the polar ice cap has opened up oil reserves, shipping lanes, and many other opportunities for trade and transport. If you’re looking for a preview of the unanticipated consequences of climate change, including new sorts of geopolitical conflict over territory and commerce, the Arctic is also a good place to watch that unfold.

Our guest this week is author David Fairhall, whose book "Cold Front: Conflict Ahead in Arctic Waters" explores these very issues. Fairhall and host Alex Wise talk about the environmental, economic, and political ramifications of a new, thawed Arctic, and discuss whether the last best hope for ecological preservation in the Arctic lies in the hands of the scientific community.