- Economic
- rapid ice melting (Arctic Amplification) can unlock shorted shipping distances b/w Europe & Asia eg. Northern Sea Route as alternative to traditional chokepoints
- Arctic Report Card 2025: highest ever air temps in 2025
- untapped hydrocarbon reserves
- 13% of global undiscovered oil reserves
- 30% of undiscovered natural gas reserves
- critical minerals
- fisheries potential
- Geopolitical
- strategic rivalry, militarization, navy
- shifting balance of power, NATO
- disruptive policies eg. USA interest in Greenland
- Ecological
- permafrost thawing releases GHG, toxic substance
- irreversible climate tipping points
- AMOC weakening can warm Europe