Arctic Policy Study Group

The Arctic continues to be a region of increasing importance and rapidly changing issues and opportunities. Commonwealth North recently authorized a new charge for the Arctic Policy Study Group. Read more about the scope of study and upcoming study sessions below.

Commonwealth North is pleased to collaborate with Arctic thought leaders as part of this series of Arctic policy study sessions:

Arctic Domain Awareness Center
Arctic Encounter
Arctic Today
Institute of the North
Polar Institute
Polar Research and Policy Initiative
DateTopicPresenter(s)Documents
January 20, 2021Yukon Territory CanadaDeputy Premier Ranj PillaiSession Recording
January 13, 2021Northwest Territories CanadaPremier Caroline CochraneSlide Deck
Session Recording
December 9, 2020Tourism in Alaska's ArcticAndrew Mew
Kris Fister
Kaktovik Video
Session Recording
Slide Deck - Andrew Mew
November 4, 2020Telecommunications in Alaska's ArcticAlex Hills, Christine O'Connor, Mac McHale, Josh Miner, Chuck Schumann, David GoldmanSession Recording
Slide Deck - O'Connor - AK Telecom Assoc.
Slide Deck - McHale - Quintillion
Slide Deck - Miner - Iridium
Slide Deck - Schumann - Pacific Dataport
Slide Deck - Goldman
October 28, 2020Work Session
October 21, 2020Arctic FisheriesSteve MacLean
Stephanie Madsen
Simon Kinneen
Session Recording
Slide Deck - MacLean
Slide Deck - Madsen
Slide Deck - Kinneen
US Russia Bilateral Agreement
October 14, 2020Powering the ArcticRob Roys
Ingemar Mathiasson
Matt Bergan
Session Recording
Slide Deck - all
September 30, 2020The Arctic CouncilMike Sfraga
David Balton
Liza Mack
Gail Schubert
Session Recording
Slide Deck - Balton
Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic
September 23, 2020Work SessionSession Recording
September 2, 2020State and Federal Lands in Alaska's ArcticSara Longan
Chad Padgett
Session Recording
Slide Deck - Longan
Slide Deck - Padgett
August 26, 2020The Ocean Between Us: Governance and Cooperation in Arctic WatersDavid Balton
Mike Sfraga
Session Recording
Slide Deck
August 12, 2020Alaska's Arctic and the New Great Power CompetitionRandy "Church" Kee
Mike Sfraga
Shannon Jenkins
Michael Smith
David Martin
Session Recording
Slide Deck - Jenkins
August 5, 2020A Warming Arctic: National Security Challenges and OpportunitiesBGen Stephen Cheney, USMC (retired)
President, American Security Project
Session Recording
Slide Deck
Arctic Imperatives
Alaska's Changing Environment
July 29, 2020Accessing Alaska's Arctic: Surface TransportationJeff San Juan, AIDEA
Ryan Anderson, ADOTPF
Session Recording
Slides: Ambler Access Project
Slides: Northern Region Projects
James DeHart, U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region
National Defense Authorization Act 2021
July 22, 2020Accessing Alaska's Arctic: Ports and IcebreakersVADM Linda Fagan, USCG
RADM, Matthew Bell, USCG
Session Recording
Presidential Memo
USCG Arctic Strategic Outlook
Bering Strait PARS
Arctic Coast Guard Forum
July 17, 2020Alaska Voices: Nothing About Us Without UsMayor Lucy Nelson
Teresa Imm
Lt. Gov Kevin Meyer
NW Arctic Borough Statement
Session Recording
Declaration of State Arctic Policy
July 10, 2020Study LaunchCo-Chairs and CollaboratorsComing Soon
May 27, 2020Alaska's Role in America's Arctic StrategySenator Dan SullivanSession Recording
May 12, 2020Sen. Sullivan of Alaska talks military strength and strategy in the ArcticJoe Gould, Senator Dan SullivanDefense News Article
May 6, 2019Looking North: Sharpening America’s Arctic Focus
Secretary of State Mike PompeoAddress to the Arctic Council

As the U.S. government undertakes an update to its Arctic Strategy, Commonwealth North charges the Arctic Policy Study Group to:

  1. review previous recommendations for state and federal Arctic policy;
  2. develop updated and revised policy recommendations; and
  3. produce a report to the White House and the U.S. Congress that summarizes Alaska perspectives on Arctic policies.

Download the study group charge statement.

pdf
3 MB

Background and Issues for Congress.

pdf
8 MB

The United States Coast Guard’s Vision for the Arctic Region.

pdf
2 MB

Reinforcing U.S. Strategy on America’s Fourth Coast.

pdf
2 MB

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the issues related to the changing Arctic for state and national policy-makers as well as the public. It is set up as an overview that frames the issues and outlines their intersection with US national and Alaskan interests.

4 documents