Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Abstract

The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the regions future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region. The seven other Arctic states are Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark (by virtue of Greenland), and Russia. The Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984 (Title I of P.L. 98-373 of July 31, 1984)provide[s] for a comprehensive national policy dealing with national research needs and objectives in the Arctic. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the lead federal agency for implementing Arctic research policy. The Arctic Council, created in 1996, is the leading international forum for addressing issues relating to the Arctic. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets forth a comprehensive regime of law and order in the worlds oceans, including the Arctic Ocean. The United States is not a party to UNCLOS. Record low extents of Arctic sea ice over the past decade have focused scientific and policy attention on links to global climate change and projected ice-free seasons in the Arctic within decades. These changes have potential consequences for weather in the United States, access to mineral and biological resources in the Arctic, the economies and cultures of peoples in the region, and national security. The geopolitical environment for the Arctic has been substantially affected by the renewal of great power competition. Although there continues to be significant international cooperation on Arctic issues, the Arctic is increasingly viewed as an arena for geopolitical competition among the United States, Russia, and China. The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Coast Guard are devoting increased attention to the Arctic in their planning and operations.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 16, 2021
Accession Number
AD1143322

Entities

People

  • Harold F. Upton
  • Jane A. Leggett
  • John Frittelli
  • Jonathan L. Ramseur
  • Laura B. Comay
  • Marc Humphries
  • Pervaze A. Sheikh
  • Peter Folger
  • Ronald O'Rourke

Organizations

  • Congressional Research Service

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Geography
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Ridges
  • Storm Surges
  • Teamwork
  • Terrain
  • Topography

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies