Finding 6:
Reduced sea ice is very likely to increase marine transport and access to resources
- The continuing reduction in sea ice is very likely to lengthen the navigation season and increase marine access to the Arctic's natural resources.
- Seasonal opening of the Northern Sea Route is likely to make trans-Arctic shipping during summer feasible within several decades. Increasing ice movement in some channels of the Northwest Passage could initially make shipping more difficult.
- Reduced sea ice is likely to allow increased offshore extraction of oil and gas, although increasing ice movement could hinder some operations.
- Sovereignty, security, and safety issues, as well as social, cultural, and environmental concerns are likely to arise as marine access increases.