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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Developing the Last Frontier without Destroying It

    With Arctic ice melting at a record pace and faster than scientists ever expected, outposts once thought of as barren wastelands are becoming new arenas for superpower competition for oil, gas, and minerals needed for high technology.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    With Arctic ice melting at a record pace and faster than scientists ever expected, outposts once thought of as barren wastelands are becoming new arenas for superpower competition for oil, gas, and minerals needed for high technology. Northern shipping lanes will be cutting traffic through the Panama Canal, and there's concern that the US is falling behind. But the Arctic will still be one of the most delicate, unpredictable regions on Earth, vulnerable to minor mistakes that can turn into major catastrophes. Can efforts at preservation keep up with development? We get a progress report.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Global Warming Reveals Oil, Gas and Rare Metals in the Arctic
    1. 0:00The UN General Assembly and Obama's 'Political Potholes'
    2. 7:37Developing the Last Frontier without Destroying ItYou’re reading this
    3. 43:34Mormonism Crosses Path with Presidential Race Again
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Elisabeth Rosenthal

      New York Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jens B. Frederiksen

      Government of Greenland

    • KCRW placeholder

      Alice Rogoff

      Alaska Dispatch

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Global Warming Reveals Oil, Gas and Rare Metals in the Arctic
    1. 0:00The UN General Assembly and Obama's 'Political Potholes'
    2. 7:37Developing the Last Frontier without Destroying ItYou’re reading this
    3. 43:34Mormonism Crosses Path with Presidential Race Again
    Back to To the Point