Today the North Pole is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. The Arctic ice cap is less than half the size it was 50 years ago. This radical climate change has thus begun to open the ice-packed Northwest Passage between Europe and Asia, and some scientists predict that the transoceanic maritime route will soon be permanently ice free during its ever-longer summers.

STRAIT THROUGH THE ICE examines the geopolitical ramifications of this development, including disputes between the five nations bordering the Arctic Ocean-the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Norway and Russia-over claims to territorial waters, the control of sea traffic, and the right to exploit the region's untapped resources of oil and other natural resources. But if this multinational race to the Arctic is not legally regulated, the region's fragile ecosystem could be devastated.

STRAIT THROUGH THE ICE illuminates the many complex issues involved in this potential conflict between ecology and geopolitics through interviews with scientists, shipping executives, local residents, navigational workers, educators, climatologists, military leaders and glaciologists.

Complemented by stunning vistas of the Arctic environment and its wildlife, the film also follows the crew of the Canadian Coast Guard research icebreaker Amundsen as it explores a new passage through the Arctic strait and collects scientific and cartographic data, in the process broaching environmental issues, global warming, the dangers of ice-floe navigation, new ship designs, and the need for new deep-sea ports.