Potential Impact of Maritime Activities on the Arctic Footprint

Understanding the Arctic footprint concept and its components is crucial, particularly in the context of Arctic shipping activities. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the Arctic footprint and maritime activities, with their related components. The gradual retreat of Arctic sea ice due to climate change has posed serious environmental challenges. Moreover, the emergence of new shipping routes has added a new dimension to these concerns. It seems inevitable that this situation, which represents a new development in maritime trade, will have an exponential impact on the Arctic footprint. In recent years, all climatic and economic projections regarding the region's future have included direct and indirect effects of Arctic shipping. The potential of the routes between East and West, to turn to the North, combined with the rich underground resources of the Arctic, attracts the attention of the industry to this region. This study reviews the literature to assess the potential threats to the Arctic footprint and includes future scenarios of Arctic utilization. Additionally, the Liner Shipping Bilateral Connectivity Index and the Climate Change Performance Index are evaluated to understand the Arctic footprint for countries that could potentially use the Arctic for trade between East Asia and Western Europe.