Photo 78: Map of Arctic. (Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book.)

Important environmental, economic and national security issues are emerging in the Arctic and adjacent Alaskan waters from global climate change. The melting of ice is resulting in interest in newly accessible shipping lanes, the exploration and exploitation of oil, gas and other natural resources and corresponding concerns regarding environmental assessment and protection. A number of international institutions are considering these issues including the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization. The Arctic Council has six working groups: Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP), Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR), Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME), and Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG).

Photo 5: Polar bear and her cub. (NOAA Photo Library.)

Additional reference information:

• NOAA Arctic web site.
• Arctic Calendar of NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration: Includes related conferences, events, and deadlines
• 08/05/08. Megan Campbell, U.S. Arctic Ocean Management paper.
• The National Ice Center
• UNEP Regional Seas Programme: Arctic
• the "Arctic Is" Web site
• Arctic Governance web site
• The Arctic Council and its six working groups:
  Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)
  Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
  Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)
  Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR)
  Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)
  Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)
• International Arctic Science Committee
• Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (2004)
• Arctic Calendar of Events (conference list)
• International Polar Year
• U.S. State Department, Article: "Establishment of the Arctic Council"
• State Department - Arctic
• IMO, "Guidelines For Ships Operating in the Arctic" (Dec. 23, 2002).
• IMO, Guidelines for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Jan. 18, 2010)
• The Encyclopedia Arctica
• Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, as amended
• Presidential Memo, Arctic Research and Policy Act (July 22, 2010)
• Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
• U.S. Geological Survey, Arctic Research Page
• International Report on the State of the Arctic Coast (April 2011)