The House of Lords Select Committee Says the U.K. Needs an Arctic Ambassador
by Sangeeta Haindl
The House of Lords Select Committee on the Arctic has published a report which calls for the U.K. to appoint an Arctic ambassador to ensure Britain is not excluded from key decisions. The report, Responding to a changing Arctic, makes several policy recommendations, based on a comprehensive study of the challenges and opportunities facing the area. The Lords committee says with the Arctic warming fast, there will be huge challenges and opportunities for the environment, ecosystems and people for which it recommends an increase in government science budgets.
Unsurprisingly, the report suggests that the U.K. must be involved in decisions about the territories surrounding the North Pole, particularly over oil exploration, fishing and strategic access. It states, "The UK can and should be more active in Arctic affairs. The government should follow the example of others in appointing a U.K. ambassador for the Arctic, based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office polar region’s department, to ensure greater focus on and co-ordination of Arctic affairs in government". It says that the media narrative of a scramble for resources as sea ice recedes has little basis in fact, and that territorial claims are "overwhelmingly already settled", but adds that oil companies should reconsider drilling plans in light of the current slump in oil prices.
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Sangeeta Haindl writes on social innovation, social enterprise, and social entrepreneurs. She is the owner of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer, and Futurist. She enjoys helping others, paying it forward, and being a mum.
