Countries Call for Regulations on Ships Servicing Region's Rapid Development

摘要

Increasing ship traffic in the Arctic that is accompanying a rise in industrial activity and a reduction in sea ice is set to be a focus of international regulatory efforts this year. Environmental protections for the Arctic are part of Russia's newly published draft development plan for the region, and they are key aspects of the planning for each industrial project proposed or under construction across the Arctic. But environmentalists are pushing for the creation of large protected areas on and offshore that remain closed to development or ship traffic.