Arctic nations agree to talk, not fight, over new shipping lanes

Courtesy USGS and NOAA.

Global warming is opening the once mythical Northwest Passage and ships are expected to be able to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific by going past Greenland,Canada and Alaska. Five nations direclty affected by this sea-change are agreeing to abide by historic treaties to settle any resulting disputes. The nations are Russia, USA, Canada, Norway and Denmark (which owns Greenland).

Northwest Passage image from NOAA satellite. That's Greenland at bottom of image, Bering Strait in the top, center.