As the Arctic begins to melt, viable shipping routes may begin to appear, offering great geopolitical gain. Wildlife such as the Arctic fox may be impacted as ice in the Arctic begins to melt. As climate change begins to thaw the Arctic, it will become navigable for several months each year. Image: ShutterstockChina’s interest in the Arctic dates back to the 1980s, and it has keenly sought agreements aiming to establish the Arctic as one of its key shipping routes. As ice begins to melt, the Arctic offers lucrative shipping routes for major nations, including Russia, China, and the US.