Episode description

Climate change and the war in Ukraine is transforming the geopolitics of the Arctic.

Melting ice opens up the possibility of new trade routes making the region more valuable.

Tensions in the area are rising as Russia turns to China for cooperation. China in return wants to position itself as a major power in the region.

Geopolitical tensions mean that any disputes become harder to resolve and potentially more dangerous. And in a region that’s vulnerable to climate change science is also suffering – without cooperation between countries valuable data is being lost.

Contributors: Andreas Østhagen, Senior Researcher at Fridtjof Nansens Institute

Stefan Hedlund, Professor of Russian and East European Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden

Matthew Funaiole, senior fellow of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Sophie Arts, from the Geostrategy North team at the German Marshall Fund of the United States

Presented by Emily Wither Produced by Louise Clarke and Ravi Naik Researched by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Mixed by Craig Boardman The Editor is Tara McDermott The production co-ordinator is Jordan King

Image: Tourists with Russian nuclear icebreaker on way to North Pole - Per Breiehagen (Getty Images)