Looking North: Northern England and the National Imagination (Studies in Popular Culture)

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The UK seeks to work with our partners and Allies in the region to reinforce international rights to freedom of access and navigation in the Arctic. Consular support in the Arctic falls to the Embassy or High Commission in whose jurisdiction a British national is travelling. The UK welcomed the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)’s recently published ‘Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement’.

A number of NATO Allies have sovereign territory in the High North – including Finland and Sweden whose accession to the Alliance began at the Madrid Summit in 2022. The UK has a high regard for animal welfare, and as a result has banned commercially importing and marketing all seal products and any related products. Further action to reduce emissions will be driven by a yearly synthesis report from the UNFCCC and an annual high-level ministerial event to increase countries’ ambition. The UK’s investment in a new generation of Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates will ensure our freedom to operate routinely in the North Atlantic, including in the GIUK Gap. Where whaling is conducted by Indigenous communities for subsistence purposes, we want this to be sustainable, well-regulated and done to the highest welfare standards as set out by the International Whaling Commission.

This is underpinned by a 10-year plan for Royal Marines training and exercising in the region (Project Heimdall). At COP27, under Egypt’s Presidency, Parties agreed under the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan to maintain momentum and ambition for ocean-climate action, building on the Glasgow Climate Pact, by improving the annual dialogue process, encouraging national ocean-based action, and recognising the impact of climate change on the cryosphere. It is conceivable that seasonal maritime routes will open through the Arctic, though it is less clear when, and to what extent, year-round routes could open. We are both founding members of NATO, and the UK was pleased to welcome Iceland in joining the JEF in 2021. Furthermore, the Agreement is in line with the UK’s ambition to strengthen measures to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The UK also ensured that the voices of Indigenous people, including from the Arctic, were represented throughout COP26. We need to be able to increase our ability to respond appropriately to the changing regional dynamic arising from the receding ice. Nearly two thirds of the global ocean lies in areas beyond national jurisdiction – and this includes part of the Arctic. The Head of the NERC Arctic Office is the current chair of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), and the UK plays a full role within IASC’s decision-making and thematic science working groups and special action groups. We are taking a positive and proactive approach to achieve our ambition for a stronger, cleaner, safer and more prosperous Arctic, while also standing up for our shared values across the world.

The UK supports their right to pursue prosperity and economic stability, and believes that the people who live in the Arctic should benefit from increasing prosperity that comes from changes in the region. It is important that projects meet international standards and best practice, such as responsible lending, sustainability and alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, appropriate project design, and transparent procurement. The 2021 Integrated Review set out the UK’s renewed commitment as an outward-facing, ambitious country and trusted ally, an openness as a society and economy, and an increased determination to seek multilateral solutions. It is a partnership rooted in shared polar heritage and history, but remains bound by continuing common interest. We will look to strengthen our cooperation with our partners across Europe and the Indo-Pacific in the pursuit of our shared objectives in the Arctic.

The UK and the Kingdom of Denmark share a commitment to a prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future for the Arctic.Under UNCLOS, it is the role of the International Seabed Authority ( ISA) to regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil beyond the limits of national jurisdiction – ‘the Area’ – for the benefit of mankind as a whole. The UK is heavily engaged in AEWA, and the Agreement contributes significantly to many Arctic biodiversity policy objectives, including that of AMBI and other CAFF initiatives. These events provide valuable opportunities for discussion and the sharing of ideas and learning for the benefit of all. There is likely to be a rise in tourism and an associated increase in visitor numbers, which could offer opportunities to work closely with all Arctic states to ensure safety at sea.