Lords Committee hears evidence on economic development and shipping operations in the Arctic
Tuesday 6 June 2023
On Wednesday 7 June the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee will hold two evidence sessions as it continues its inquiry into the Arctic region.
The first session will consider economic activity in the region, including the hydrocarbon sector, oil and gas development and emerging areas of economic growth. The second session will examine shipping operations in the Arctic, including the economic benefits and challenges.
The session will start at 10.35am and will be available to watch live or on demand on Parliament TV, or attend in person in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
10.35am
- Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director, Arctic Economic Council; and
- William Johnsen, Strategic Advisor, Offshore Norge.
11.30am
- Elise Nyborg, Policy Advisor, UK Chamber of Shipping; and
- Morten Glamsø, Head of Security at Danish Shipping.
Questions for discussion will include:
- What is the current scale of economic activity in the Arctic? What are the main types of economic activity, and to what extent are non-Arctic countries involved?
- How extensive is oil and gas development in the Arctic at the moment, and what is the growth potential for the sector in the Nordic Arctic?
- What are the operational challenges to the expansion of oil and gas development in the Arctic? In your view, is such development necessary for securing future European/global energy supplies?
- What kinds of shipping takes place in the Artic, and how do they compare to each other in terms of volume/economic importance?
- What are the anticipated economic benefits of increased shipping, both for the regional and global economy, but also for local communities (including indigenous communities)?
- How challenging is it for shipping to operate in the Arctic and how is the industry managing any risks?
