Analyze of the states' claims in the arctic region within the framework of environmental security and climate change

The aim of this thesis is to analyze of the states' claims in the arctic region within the framework of environmental security and climate change. According to the information and data obtained in the study, even if the states reach a consensus in the sharing of regional resources, the use of these fossil energy resources will further increase the current high emissions. Therefore, even if states are prevented from being dragged into an armed conflict within the framework of their claims, it will not be possible to get rid of the devastating effects of global warming for the world. The first part of the study is an explanation about environmental security, Arctic Council which is one of the steps taken in the name of environmental security in the Arctic region, global warming and greenhouse effect, melting of icecaps, information about research made since the 19th century on global warming, and finally the economic and strategic aspects of the Arctic region. In the second part, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) led by the United and its reports, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea have been examined with official documents. In the third part, the claims of sovereignty in the region of five Arctic countries (Russia, USA, Canada, Norway and Denmark), whose economic and national security concerns increased due to the melting of the Arctic glaciers, are examined within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Global warming is an important problem that threatens all life on Earth, especially in the Arctic region. However, as can be seen in this study, countries in the region ignore this factor at the expense of their economic interests and national security concerns. The efforts of the United Nations to slow down global warming are insufficient to achieve the expected impact due to the countries' reluctance. According to the information and data obtained in this study, it is revealed that global warming will increase faster if the states take over the claimed areas and use the fossil resources there, and environmental and economic threats will be replaced by environmental threats.