Svalbard

Svalbard is at the heart of the scramble between global powers for Arctic resources.

High above the Arctic Circle, the archipelago of Svalbard lies halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

A handful of other Australian territories were also hit by the new tariffs, in addition to the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard, the Falkland Islands and The British Indian Ocean Territory.

Temperatures around the north pole were about 20C above normal in early February, leading to melting conditions in places like Svalbard.

Last month Greenpeace welcomed the decision of the Norwegian government to stop the first round of licencing for deep sea mining in Arctic waters between Norway's Svalbard and Jan Mayen islands.