We need science in support of discovery and sovereignty in Canada’s Arctic

In 2007, Russia planted a one-metre-high titanium Russian flag on the seabed floor north of Nunavut. The submarine entered Canadian inland waters and was spotted on Canadian radar. Russia’s purpose was assumedly to lay claim, symbolically, to billions of dollars’ worth of oil and gas reserves believed to be in the region. Ten years later, in 2017, a purpose-built Chinese research icebreaker made its first-ever voyage through the Northwest Passage on a what was officially identified as a research trip, but tracking data revealed that the ship travelled in a pattern not aligned with plausible scientific objectives. The general consensus was that the vessel was laying foundations for China to sail cargo ships over the top of Canada via what has become known as the “Polar silk road.” By 2027, a decade afterward and year that is not very far into the future, scientists anticipate that climate change could warm the Arctic to more than 7 C, a rate four times the global average, facilitating irreversible losses in sea ice while also creating increased access to natural resources and Arctic maritime transit routes enabling the beginning of Arctic international economic development and maritime trade. Coupled with the current illegal occupation of Ukraine by Russia, this underscores Canada’s urgent need to turn our attention to a region that makes up more than two-thirds of our nation’s land mass. Indeed, Canada is an Arctic nation. It is clear that the next frontline of geopolitical manoeuvring is likely to be the Arctic, an area in which Canada has an undisputed claim, but where even some of our closest allies question our inherent sovereignty. There is growing and urgent concern among the Canadian Arctic science community that without the continued presence of a co-ordinated, networked, and connected research presence in our North, it will become increasingly challenging to ensure the continued understanding, prosperity, and sovereignty of the region. Dr. Jackie Dawson is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, professor in the department of geography, environment, and geomatics at the University of Ottawa, and serves as the scientific director of ArcticNet. Photograph courtesy of Jackie Dawson There are very strong arguments to be made that a key element of Canada’s response to ongoing change and heightened interest in the Arctic region should be to ensure there continues to be a robust, diverse, and networked Canadian-led science program in the region. We know that if we don’t lead, other nations will. Canada remains the only Arctic nation without an Arctic science plan and even non-Arctic nations—such as the United Kingdom, France, India, Netherlands, and China—are all purported to be investing more in Arctic science over the next decade than is currently slated in Canada. While shifting priorities in science funding in Canada are in play, a renewed commitment to established and thriving networks, like ArcticNet with 20 years of history and national and global partnerships, would go a long way to reinforcing our sovereignty in the region, and guaranteeing our global influence in Arctic and climate research while fostering Indigenous leadership and self-determination, reconciliation, and true partnerships that work. The world is watching and waiting for Canada to take a leadership role in this space and we have the history, values, systems, and structures to do so. That is, if we continue to invest and lead by showing the world not just what science is important in the Arctic, but also how science should be done. We have an opportunity to do things right: to support a sustainable plan for Indigenous self-determined approaches to research that the world expects Canada to model and to lead; to make revolutionary discoveries in climate change mitigation and adaptation; to enhance innovations in energy transformations; to support reconciliation, shared and unleased capacity of Indigenous expert, youth, and knowledge holders; and to clearly establish our sovereignty in the understanding, activities, and development of our Canadian Arctic. What we know, we can understand, and what we understand we can protect. A strong, co-ordinated, and diverse Arctic science network can and will play a key role in maintaining our national position within an increasingly contentious and geopolitical Arctic. Dr. Jackie Dawson is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and full professor in the department of geography, environment, and geomatics at the University of Ottawa. She also serves as the scientific director of ArcticNet. The Hill Times