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Arctic Yearbook 2015
Let’s start with the United States. The most recent phase of attention on Arctic governance began in
2009, in the waning days of the Bush Administration, with the update to the Arctic Region Policy
(NSPD-66/HSPD-25). This policy document was reaffirmed in the early days of the Obama
Administration as the first of several steps to build on that foundation.
It could be argued that one of President Obama’s enduring legacies will be his attention to the growing
importance of the Arctic region, and the need to govern it well, both domestically and internationally.
His recent trip to Alaska (and north of the Arctic Circle) represented both a significant symbolic and
practical achievement. Appreciation was expressed for the Administration’s focus on and investments
in climate change, renewable energy, enhancements to safety and security, and assistance to remote
communities.
Good governance starts with reliable information, including results from scientific research. In a vast
region with relatively limited access, it is particularly important to obtain and integrate as much relevant
information as possible. To that end, in 2010, President Obama elevated the stature of Arctic research
by directing the National Science and Technology Council to revitalize the Interagency Arctic
Research Policy Committee (IARPC), a coordinating entity created by Congress by the Arctic
Research Policy Act of 1984 (the US Arctic Research Commission (www.arctic.gov) is another product
of that legislation).
In February 2013, the White House released IARPC’s first five-year integrated Arctic research
program plan. The plan’s seven research themes advance fundamental knowledge of the region, and
help inform decision-making.
In May 2013, President Obama released “The National Strategy for the Arctic Region,” which focuses
on three lines of effort, which are to: (1) advance US security interests; (2) pursue responsible Arctic
region stewardship; and (3) strengthen international cooperation.
In January 2014, the White House released the “Implementation Plan for The National Strategy for
the Arctic Region,” establishing the process and approach for executing the Strategy. These initiatives
build upon existing efforts by federal agencies, state government, local, and tribal authorities, the
private sector, and international partners. In January 2015, the President signed Executive Order
(#13689) establishing an Arctic Executive Steering Committee (AESC) to focus coordination efforts,
chaired by White House senior leadership.
The AESC helped plan and conduct the August 31, 2015 “Global Leadership in the Arctic
Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience (GLACIER)” conference, hosted by the US
Department of State, and attended by ministers and other high-level officials from many Arctic and
non-Arctic
states.
The
“Chair’s
Summary”
can
be
found
here
(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/246 S