Toward Sustainable Arctic Shipping: Perspectives from China

Qiang Zhang, Zheng Wan and Shanshan Fu
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Qiang Zhang: College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Zheng Wan: College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China
Shanshan Fu: College of Transport and Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: As a near-Arctic state and a shipping power, China shows great interest in developing polar shortcuts from East Asia to Europe against the background of shrinking Arctic sea ice. Due to the Arctic’s historic inaccessibility and corresponding vulnerable ecosystems, Arctic shipping activities must be carried out sustainably. In this study, a content analysis method was adopted to detect Chinese perspectives toward sustainable Arctic shipping based on qualitative data collected from the websites of several Chinese government agencies. Results show that, first, China emphasizes the fundamental role played by scientific expeditions and studies in developing Arctic shipping routes. Second, China encourages its shipping enterprises to conduct commercial and regularized Arctic voyages and intends to strike a good balance between shipping development and environmental protection. Third, China actively participates in Arctic shipping governance via extensive international cooperation at the global and regional levels. Several policy recommendations on how China can develop sustainable Arctic shipping are proposed accordingly.

Keywords: sustainability; Arctic shipping; governance; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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