UN decides Arctic borders

Greenland's ice cap was a fabulous back drop for this two-day summit.

And its future will depend on what the delegates here decide.

Five countries have been squabbling over sovereignty of the Arctic seabed.

Denmark's Foreign Minister says they've now agreed to let the United Nations rule on the dispute.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER PER STIG MOLLER SAYING:

"That is a very important step forward, that we know there will be a new situation before that has been settled and we have to solve problems in-between that."

The Arctic Ocean is thought to hold up to a quarter of the world's undiscovered oil and gas reserves.

And climate change means the previously inaccessible region may soon be ready for exploration and, fears Greenland's leader, exploitation.

(SOUNDBITE) (Greenlandish) GREENLAND PREMIER HANS ENOKSEN SAYING:

"With the receding glaciers we already see that we can find minerals that were previously hidden under the ice."

Under current laws Denmark, Norway and Canada, along with Russia and the United States all claim sovereignty over the Arctic Ocean.

But environmentalists say the challenges of climate change must come before the prospect of rich pickings.

Norway's and America's delegates acknowledged that responsibility.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JONAS GAHR STORE SAYING:

"We should not forget that the most dramatic effects of this phenomenon may not be around this region but around Lake Chad, in the middle of Africa. Or in Asia or in Latin America."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN NEGROPONTE SAYING:

"As countries bordering the Arctic region I think we have a particular responsibility to consider the effects of that those changes and those new activities are going to have."

Environmentalists wanted the delegates to set up a treaty similar to one in the Antarctic which bans mineral mining.

But they weren't invited to the summit and an Arctic treaty was considered unnecessary.

That may change when the U.N. starts considering each country's sovereignty claim.

So might the current bonhomie as the need for new energy sources becomes more pressing.

Sonia Legg, Reuters.

squabble - To engage in a disagreeable argument, usually over a trivial matter; wrangle. See Synonyms at argue.
re·cede - To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark: waited for the floodwaters to recede.
bonhomie - exuberant friendliness