THE WORKSHOP
Arctic Transportation Infrastructure:
Response Capacity and Sustainable Development in the Arctic
3-6 December 2012 • Icelandair Hotel Natura • Reykjavik, Iceland
Increased resource extraction to support economic and community development and increased shipping traffic through Arctic waters have resulted in the corresponding need for an increased capacity to respond by sea and air. Arctic ports and airports serve as an important base for response, acting as a gateway to support SAR, resource extraction and development activities, pollution prevention and environmental safety, and community health and security.
The Arctic Council's Sustainable Development Working Group approved a project during the Swedish Chairmanship (co-led by the United States and Iceland) to assess transportation infrastructure. The Arctic Marine and Aviation Transportation Infrastructure Initiative (AMATII) seeks to evaluate Northern infrastructure ports, airports, and response capability by inventorying maritime and aviation assets in the Arctic.
As part of this project, the Institute of the North hosted an Arctic transportation infrastructure workshop 3-6 December 2012 in Reykjavik, Iceland, with the theme, "Response Capacity and Sustainable Development in the Arctic." Invited participants included policy makers and government officials; aviation and marine subject matter experts from the private, public, independent and academic sectors; as well as community leaders and Permanent Participants.
During the first part of the workshop, Arctic experts met in both plenary and work sessions to discuss infrastructure vis-à-vis response, technology and investment. Illustrative studies of northern aviation and marine infrastructure - contributed by participants - served to highlight the challenges of infrastructure development in the Arctic and its role in facilitating sustainable development.
Participants had a chance to view and evaluate the Arctic Port and Airport Database and Interactive Map, which is the primary deliverable of AMATII. Subject matter expert input will continue to help refine and strengthen these tools. The workshop ended with an interactive plenary session to discuss next steps and to outline areas of consideration for the Guidance Document, a final deliverable for this Arctic Council project.
