Uploaded May 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
The Arctic Council has six new observer nations today, and China is amongst them.
Global powers have been looking to the Arctic because the changing climate is opening up new economic opportunities there.
On Wednesday, after a meeting of the eight Arctic Council nations, a decision was made to include China, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore and South Korea as permanent observers to the Council.
The Artic Council was created in 1996 with these eight member nations
The council has largely examined environmental issues, including the impact of ice melts around the region. The melting has opened up shipping routes, and the Artic has been increasingly used as a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
There is also intensified competition by global powers for undiscovered reserves of oil and gas in the Arctic.
As permanent observers, China and the other countries will not have any powers to make decisions.
The increased interest in the Arctic's resource potentials has raised some concern that development could harm the fragile environment there.
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The Arctic Council has six new observer nations today, and China is amongst them.
Global powers have been looking to the Arctic because the changing climate is opening up new economic opportunities there.
On Wednesday, after a meeting of the eight Arctic Council nations, a decision was made to include China, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore and South Korea as permanent observers to the Council.
The Artic Council was created in 1996 with these eight member nations
The council has largely examined environmental issues, including the impact of ice melts around the region. The melting has opened up shipping routes, and the Artic has been increasingly used as a shortcut between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
There is also intensified competition by global powers for undiscovered reserves of oil and gas in the Arctic.
As permanent observers, China and the other countries will not have any powers to make decisions.
The increased interest in the Arctic's resource potentials has raised some concern that development could harm the fragile environment there.
For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv
Follow us on Twitter ☛ twitter.com/NTDTelevision
Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me/s5KV2C
