There are benefits in the melting of the Arctic, but the risks are much greater
As Climate Central’s Andrew Freedman recently pointed out, the United States is essentially helpless in the Arctic, with zero Navy surface ships capable of navigating the icy waters and the Senate unwilling to ratify the UN convention that facilitates diplomacy in the region. That’s a big concern, given that the new shipping routes come with dangers ranging from lost lives to environmentally disastrous spills to territorial disputes
