n Tuesday April 12th, the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement held a forum (you can watch the recording here) on the future of diplomatic relations in the ever-transforming frontiers of the Arctic, outer space, and the high seas. These stages provide impressive opportunities for the future of technological innovation and economic development, but there will be challenges as the interests of state and non-state actors collide. Scientific advancements have expanded the possibilities for collaboration and exploration in these frontier areas. Climate change has arisen as a significant trans-regional challenge in the face of international discussions and Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has brought into question the future of diplomacy in these frontiers.
The Growing Role of Science Diplomacy
One of the most interesting points brought up in the discussion was the role of science in diplomacy. Larry Mayer, Chair of the U.S. National Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science sat on a panel for maritime diplomacy, where he spoke about the need for scientists to be more involved in diplomacy. He explained, “Scientists don’t think about borders, they think about processes.” Ambassador John Negroponte expressed a similar view when he stressed the utility of scientific cooperation as a diplomatic tool. The growing role of science in international relations can be at least partially explained by the COVID-19 pandemic, as world leaders were obliged to rely increasingly on scientific experts to craft effective public health policy. Furthermore, the increased politicization and visibility of climate change has also meant more visibility for the scientific community. The need for scientists to be more involved in future diplomatic efforts in the future seems clear, considering how rapidly our interaction with frontier areas are changing. Climate change is changing our maritime environments – especially in the Arctic – while technological innovation means we can do so much more in these forbidding spaces, whether we’re talking about the high seas or outer space.
On Thin Ice
Meridian’s convening was structured around the high seas, the Arctic, and outer space – each of which presents unique challenges for statecraft. A lack of borders and difficulties establishing jurisdiction means these environments are especially challenging when it comes to international competition and cooperation. This is especially true when it comes to tackling climate change.
Experts speaking at the forum highlighted climate change and worldwide pollution as major trans-regional issues that cannot be solved by the actions of a single group or nation-state. In March the UN convened its 5th Environment Assembly in Nairobi aimed at addressing pollution and evaluating progress on the climate crisis. The assembly, which consisted of 193 representatives from around the world, adopted 14 resolutions – the most significant of which was a resolution on ending plastic pollution. Speaking at the diplomacy forum, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs J.R. Littlejohn lauded the resolution, calling it the “most important step forward since the Paris Agreement.”
Her statement rang true in the wake of last year’s brief from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which found that over 14 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year. It's estimated that around four-fifths of all marine debris is now plastic. According to Littlejohn, the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) is looking for a legally binding agreement on plastics by 2024 to ensure a future of sustainable marine life. Littlejohn also echoed the goals of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) coalition to ensure the protection of 30% of marine areas by 2030. The BBNJ agreement was joined by almost 50 nations in February to conserve marine resources impacted by human activities.
Climate change means higher temperatures and rising sea levels everywhere, but nowhere is this truer than the Arctic. According to Natalie Jones, Vice President to Meridian International, the Arctic is heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world. Conditions in the Arctic have taken a turn for the worse with the melting ice sheets and migrating schools of fish. While these are negative developments, melting ice does also mean new sea routes in the region. Nations and companies are taking advantage of the new pathways to mine for oil and rare minerals. Experts at the forum emphasized the need to find a way to balance these economic interests with environmental issues. However, there is some concern that the future of sustainability in the Arctic may have to be put on hold with the recent crisis in Ukraine.
The Russia Question
The implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been far more wide-reaching than most expected. The conflict has upended scientific and diplomatic cooperation, and that’s a major loss for the global scientific community. With the ongoing hostilities, Russian scientists have been largely absent from ongoing collaborations. Diplomatic communication has also been cut, meaning no possibility for collaboration on forming new regulatory regimes in these frontiers.
Russia continues to head the Arctic Council – an intergovernmental partnership between 14 governments with Arctic interests - until Norway’s scheduled succession in 2024. Since Russia’s invasion, the council has suspended meetings until further notice. Despite this suspension, U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region James DeHart and the Ambassador of Norway have both assured the public that the council will continue to operate in Russia’s absence. Yet there are qeustions about how useful this will be, as Russia’s coastlines account for nearly half of the Arctic Ocean’s coastline. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, then, endangers Arctic diplomacy – a point made clear when we consider how militarization of the Arctic has increased. A region that DeHart believes has “traditionally been a realm of cooperation with Russia” may see significant change in the coming years.
Militarization was a concern in talks on the future of space diplomacy and exploration. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines – who was the forum’s keynote speaker – expressed concerns for what this militarization means as we become more reliant on commercial infrastructure in space. As the sky grows more and more crowded with satellites, debris, and plans for future space stations the future of intergovernmental cooperation is in doubt. Space diplomacy is now a buzzword as officials come to recognize the need for security in space. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only made this need more clearly urgent. NASA’s Artemis Accords, a treaty to outline outer space conduct, even makes it a priority to require that all activities in space be administered under peaceful purposes. The relationship between Russia and the West is not just deteriorating on land and in seas, but also in the future of outer space innovation and travel.
Conclusion
Experts at the forum emphasized an urgent need for diplomacy in the wake of today’s crises and expanding arenas. They agreed that diplomacy is key to addressing the evolving technological landscape, especially in earth’s lower orbit. Many panelists also stressed the need for international cooperation to combat climate change and worldwide pollution. Diplomatic efforts seem like the only viable solution to ending the stalemate with Russia and allaying any future violations. With these transforming and ever evolving frontiers it has become apparent that diplomacy too much evolve and adapt for the future of a peaceful and symbiotic world.
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Meridian Diplomacy Forum Examines Future of Statecraft in Frontiers
Svalbard, Norway. Photo via Pixabay.
April 20, 2022
Science diplomacy will be key to navigating statecraft and security challenges in our evolving frontiers—the Arctic, high seas, and outer space—but Russia's recent hostility complicates matters.
O
n Tuesday April 12th, the Meridian Center for Diplomatic Engagement held a forum (you can watch the recording here) on the future of diplomatic relations in the ever-transforming frontiers of the Arctic, outer space, and the high seas. These stages provide impressive opportunities for the future of technological innovation and economic development, but there will be challenges as the interests of state and non-state actors collide. Scientific advancements have expanded the possibilities for collaboration and exploration in these frontier areas. Climate change has arisen as a significant trans-regional challenge in the face of international discussions and Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has brought into question the future of diplomacy in these frontiers.
The Growing Role of Science Diplomacy
One of the most interesting points brought up in the discussion was the role of science in diplomacy. Larry Mayer, Chair of the U.S. National Committee for the UN Decade of Ocean Science sat on a panel for maritime diplomacy, where he spoke about the need for scientists to be more involved in diplomacy. He explained, “Scientists don’t think about borders, they think about processes.” Ambassador John Negroponte expressed a similar view when he stressed the utility of scientific cooperation as a diplomatic tool. The growing role of science in international relations can be at least partially explained by the COVID-19 pandemic, as world leaders were obliged to rely increasingly on scientific experts to craft effective public health policy. Furthermore, the increased politicization and visibility of climate change has also meant more visibility for the scientific community. The need for scientists to be more involved in future diplomatic efforts in the future seems clear, considering how rapidly our interaction with frontier areas are changing. Climate change is changing our maritime environments – especially in the Arctic – while technological innovation means we can do so much more in these forbidding spaces, whether we’re talking about the high seas or outer space.
On Thin Ice
Meridian’s convening was structured around the high seas, the Arctic, and outer space – each of which presents unique challenges for statecraft. A lack of borders and difficulties establishing jurisdiction means these environments are especially challenging when it comes to international competition and cooperation. This is especially true when it comes to tackling climate change.
Experts speaking at the forum highlighted climate change and worldwide pollution as major trans-regional issues that cannot be solved by the actions of a single group or nation-state. In March the UN convened its 5th Environment Assembly in Nairobi aimed at addressing pollution and evaluating progress on the climate crisis. The assembly, which consisted of 193 representatives from around the world, adopted 14 resolutions – the most significant of which was a resolution on ending plastic pollution. Speaking at the diplomacy forum, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs J.R. Littlejohn lauded the resolution, calling it the “most important step forward since the Paris Agreement.”
Her statement rang true in the wake of last year’s brief from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which found that over 14 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year. It's estimated that around four-fifths of all marine debris is now plastic. According to Littlejohn, the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) is looking for a legally binding agreement on plastics by 2024 to ensure a future of sustainable marine life. Littlejohn also echoed the goals of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) coalition to ensure the protection of 30% of marine areas by 2030. The BBNJ agreement was joined by almost 50 nations in February to conserve marine resources impacted by human activities.
Climate change means higher temperatures and rising sea levels everywhere, but nowhere is this truer than the Arctic. According to Natalie Jones, Vice President to Meridian International, the Arctic is heating up twice as fast as the rest of the world. Conditions in the Arctic have taken a turn for the worse with the melting ice sheets and migrating schools of fish. While these are negative developments, melting ice does also mean new sea routes in the region. Nations and companies are taking advantage of the new pathways to mine for oil and rare minerals. Experts at the forum emphasized the need to find a way to balance these economic interests with environmental issues. However, there is some concern that the future of sustainability in the Arctic may have to be put on hold with the recent crisis in Ukraine.
The Russia Question
The implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been far more wide-reaching than most expected. The conflict has upended scientific and diplomatic cooperation, and that’s a major loss for the global scientific community. With the ongoing hostilities, Russian scientists have been largely absent from ongoing collaborations. Diplomatic communication has also been cut, meaning no possibility for collaboration on forming new regulatory regimes in these frontiers.
Russia continues to head the Arctic Council – an intergovernmental partnership between 14 governments with Arctic interests - until Norway’s scheduled succession in 2024. Since Russia’s invasion, the council has suspended meetings until further notice. Despite this suspension, U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region James DeHart and the Ambassador of Norway have both assured the public that the council will continue to operate in Russia’s absence. Yet there are qeustions about how useful this will be, as Russia’s coastlines account for nearly half of the Arctic Ocean’s coastline. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, then, endangers Arctic diplomacy – a point made clear when we consider how militarization of the Arctic has increased. A region that DeHart believes has “traditionally been a realm of cooperation with Russia” may see significant change in the coming years.
Militarization was a concern in talks on the future of space diplomacy and exploration. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines – who was the forum’s keynote speaker – expressed concerns for what this militarization means as we become more reliant on commercial infrastructure in space. As the sky grows more and more crowded with satellites, debris, and plans for future space stations the future of intergovernmental cooperation is in doubt. Space diplomacy is now a buzzword as officials come to recognize the need for security in space. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has only made this need more clearly urgent. NASA’s Artemis Accords, a treaty to outline outer space conduct, even makes it a priority to require that all activities in space be administered under peaceful purposes. The relationship between Russia and the West is not just deteriorating on land and in seas, but also in the future of outer space innovation and travel.
Conclusion
Experts at the forum emphasized an urgent need for diplomacy in the wake of today’s crises and expanding arenas. They agreed that diplomacy is key to addressing the evolving technological landscape, especially in earth’s lower orbit. Many panelists also stressed the need for international cooperation to combat climate change and worldwide pollution. Diplomatic efforts seem like the only viable solution to ending the stalemate with Russia and allaying any future violations. With these transforming and ever evolving frontiers it has become apparent that diplomacy too much evolve and adapt for the future of a peaceful and symbiotic world.
