ABSTRACT
Global warming is causing many challenges but also facilitating some economic benefits. The scope of the chapter encompasses benefits to supply chain management (SCM) in the Arctic region. This chapter achieves this goal by reviewing the existing literature on the supply chain (SC) activities in the Arctic over the past 100 years, listing opportunities and challenges, and building a research agenda. The purpose of this chapter is to synthesize current knowledge about SCs and transportation in the Arctic. One finding was that the focus of studies in this domain has significantly changed from the supply, in the early 1980s, to transportation activities and, more recently, to services. Another finding is a need to establish policies to regulate navigation and invest in infrastructure in the Arctic to facilitate and regulate the shipping traffic due to the melting of ice in the region. As a result, SC activities in general, and transportation in particular, could flourish by developing infrastructure to manage traffic without affecting the environment. One more finding is the importance of considering the social impact of SC activities in the Arctic due to increased traffic and developed infrastructures in that region. Therefore, besides economic, environmental, and governance issues, it is required to consider social factors in managing SC activities in the Arctic. This chapter’s main contribution is to provide a long-term view and recommend a research agenda on SCM and transportation in the Arctic.
