Industry-specific impacts of global drivers in the European Arctic

Abstract

Natural resource-based industries in the European Arctic operate in anincreasingly competitive and globalized Arctic. Knowledge of key driversand their industrial impacts provide industries, companies, communities,and decision-makers at multiple levels with information on how to plan,manage and collaborate for the future. In this study, we explore the globaldrivers that affect key industries in the European Arctic – aquaculture,forestry, mining and tourism – and what impacts these drivers have on thespecific industries. The study identifies eight common global driversaffecting all four industries, after applying thematic analysis of an exten-sive interview material with national industrial specialists in the EuropeanArctic countries and at EU level. The global drivers identified, impact thedevelopment of key industries in the European Arctic differently and pointto context-specific developments as well as a considerable uncertaintywhat the future holds.