Pan Arctic Forum

Arctic Deeply published an article titled, “Executive Summary for January 27th.” The article reads in part as follows;

“There was one big question on the minds of those attending Norway’s Arctic Frontiers conference: What will Donald Trump’s U.S. presidency mean to the Arctic? The answer offered by one U.S. rep in attendance: ‘The truth is I don’t think anybody really knows yet’.

As Alaska Dispatch News reports, that was ventured by David Balton, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary for oceans and fisheries and the current chairman of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials group.

PR Newswire posted an article titled, “Arctic Economic Council Releases Comprehensive Report.” The article reads in part as follows;

“The Arctic Economic Council (AEC) is proud to announce the publication and release of its comprehensive report: Arctic Broadband, Recommendations for an Interconnected Arctic. This report analyzes the current state of broadband in the circumpolar far north, and details suggestions of how to facilitate the technology’s deployment and adoption. The 30-page first-of-its-kind report is a product of the AEC’s Telecommunications Working Group, chaired by former U.S. Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell.

The Hill published an article titled, “President Trump, welcome to the Arctic.” The article reads in part as follows;

“U.S. government scientists have just announced that 2016 was the hottest year on record, with a major contribution from the unprecedented warming of the Arctic.  At the same briefing it was also reported that the warming of the Arctic was accompanied by record loss of sea ice and snow cover.

Council of Yukon First Nations published information titled, “Arctic Athabaskan Council.” It reads as follows;

“The Arctic Athabaskan Council has representatives from Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The Yukon’s representative body is the Council of Yukon First Nations, representing eleven Yukon First Nations. The permanent office of the Arctic Athabaskan Council is located in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, within the same central administrative headquarters as the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

‘The Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) is an international treaty organization established to represent the interests of United States and Canadian Athabaskan member First Nation governments in Arctic Council forums, and to foster a greater understanding of the common heritage of all Athabaskan peoples of Arctic North America’.

KUAC released an article titled, “As New U.S. Administration Assumes Power, Arctic Council Prepares for New Chairmanship.” The article reads in part as follows;

“As the United States ushers in a new administration, the eight member nations of the Arctic Council are gearing up for their own transition in leadership that’ll occur during the council’s biennial ministerial meeting to be held this spring here in Fairbanks.

‘The ministerial is perhaps the most important event in the two-year cycle of the Arctic Council, because it brings the foreign ministers – in our case, the Secretary of State – together to really tie a bow on the work that’s been completed’, says Adm. Robert Papp, who’s served as U.S. special representative for the Arctic since the United States assumed chairmanship of council in 2015.

The Arctic Journal posted an article titled, “Arctic Council upgrade.” The article reads in part as follows;

“As the Arctic Council celebrates its 20th anniversary, we acknowledge its many positive scientific and policy-shaping accomplishments and look to greater Arctic cooperation to govern this unique region of the planet for sustainability. The rapid and significant changes in the Arctic, from melting ice to economic development have drawn global attention to the region, and to the Arctic Council as the central mechanism for responding to these changes.

The issuance of a final regulation is not necessarily the last word on a public policy issue since it  can always be changed.

In the case of the Arctic drilling, it is going to be revisited by the incoming Administration.   ABC News quotes this statement by the Secretary of the Interior Zinke during his confirmation hearings:

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the Department of Interior said today that he would consider reversing a decision from the Obama administration last year to halt oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, a move that could allow fossil fuel development in region.

Arctic Deeply released an article titled, “A Pathway to Better Collaboration Between Northern Leaders.” The article reads in part as follows;

“The Institute of the North is committed to advancing Arctic issues related to sustainable development as part of a strategic, inclusive and collaborative approach. This means improving the quality of life for northern residents via economic development, while ensuring that protective environmental measures are in place and the traditional and cultural heritage of the region is respected. The trends within both the United States and Canada have been toward a series of high-level policies, strategies and implementation plans that have tried to frame the critical issues in the Arctic.

Russia Direct posted an article titled, “Trump, Russia and the Arctic.” The article reads in part as follows;

“With Donald Trump’s inauguration fast approaching, there is still no telling what his presidency will really be like. Policy forecasts in this regard can only be speculation. However, the signals he has been giving out during his campaign, the appointments he has made since then and the expectations of his foreign counterparts give some indications of the course international relations might take during his upcoming term.

Global Trade posted an article online titled, “International Cooperation Robust in the Arctic.” The article reads in part as follows;

“The relationship between Russia and the west entered crisis mode in March 2014 when Russia formally annexed Crimea and has sinve further declined.

But cooperation remains robust on matters involving the Arctic. An article that appeared in The Polar Connection explains why.