The Future of the Arctic

  3 Events       2 Exchanges       1 Track 1/1.5/2    

21CQ’s work on Arctic Futures is driven by the fact that the Arctic is “opening up” – in all senses – due to climate change. As such, the massive Arcitc space promises to be one of the most complex strategic theatres of the world in the coming decades, the new-century governance rules of which are still to be largely determined. 21CQ has the following objectives for its engagement on this Question:

1. advancing the idea that Canada is one of the Arctic giants this century, with term-setting potential among the major countries and continents that cross the Arctic space – therefore requiring huge investment in national assets and capabilities (demographic, infrastructural, economic, scientific, diplomatic, military, etc.) in support of such term-setting potential.

• 21CQ has spearheaded the idea of Whitehorse or Inuvik become a “Singapore of the Arctic” (at the centre of a new Arctic market of 2 billion people) as a vision to galvanize national resources and energies in Canada to drive an exit from the economic and strategic depression caused by the pandemic period.
• 21CQ also sees this vision as essential to addressing the Western Question in Canada (a future 21CQ Question of interest) – that is, the future of national unity in respect of the West (including in addressing Wexit and comparable dynamics) runs through the Arctic.

2. promoting the Arctic as a theatre of peaceable and prosperous coexistence among the Arctic states, and among the various continental blocs whose vectors of interest touch or may touch the Arctic as a result of the emergence of new transport routes, economic opportunity, scientific discovery and environmental challenges.

• 21CQ has spearheaded the idea of a new Arctic League, headquartered in Canada, as a next-generation governance structure to link the Arctic states and giants, as well as surrounding continental blocs, in a regulatory regime for commerce, transport (air, sea, etc.), scientific collaboration, environmental governance, people-to-people exchange, and international confidence-building (including in the security realm).

21CQ makes its arguments and interventions in support of its goals through conferences, briefings, publications, private and public interventions, as well as Track 1, Track 1.5 and Track 2 initiatives in Canada (including with Northern and Indigenous populations) and around the world.

21CQ’s work on Arctic Futures is driven by the fact that the Arctic is “opening up” – in all senses – due to climate change. As such, the massive Arcitc space promises to be one of the most complex strategic theatres of the world in the coming decades, the new-century governance rules of which are still to be largely determined. 21CQ has the following objectives for its engagement on this Question:

1. advancing the idea that Canada is one of the Arctic giants this century, with term-setting potential among the major countries and continents that cross the Arctic space – therefore requiring huge investment in national assets and capabilities (demographic, infrastructural, economic, scientific, diplomatic, military, etc.) in support of such term-setting potential.

• 21CQ has spearheaded the idea of Whitehorse or Inuvik become a “Singapore of the Arctic” (at the centre of a new Arctic market of 2 billion people) as a vision to galvanize national resources and energies in Canada to drive an exit from the economic and strategic depression caused by the pandemic period.
• 21CQ also sees this vision as essential to addressing the Western Question in Canada (a future 21CQ Question of interest) – that is, the future of national unity in respect of the West (including in addressing Wexit and comparable dynamics) runs through the Arctic.

2. promoting the Arctic as a theatre of peaceable and prosperous coexistence among the Arctic states, and among the various continental blocs whose vectors of interest touch or may touch the Arctic as a result of the emergence of new transport routes, economic opportunity, scientific discovery and environmental challenges.

• 21CQ has spearheaded the idea of a new Arctic League, headquartered in Canada, as a next-generation governance structure to link the Arctic states and giants, as well as surrounding continental blocs, in a regulatory regime for commerce, transport (air, sea, etc.), scientific collaboration, environmental governance, people-to-people exchange, and international confidence-building (including in the security realm).

21CQ makes its arguments and interventions in support of its goals through conferences, briefings, publications, private and public interventions, as well as Track 1, Track 1.5 and Track 2 initiatives in Canada (including with Northern and Indigenous populations) and around the world.