U.S. Arctic Policy: Climate Change, UNCLOS and Strategic Opportunity

• Main Author: Bunker, Wayne M
• Other Authors: ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Geography; Civil Defense; Underwater and Marine Navigation and Guidance; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *POLICIES; *UNITED STATES; ARCTIC OCEAN; CLIMATE CHANGE; COMMERCE; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; HOMELAND DEFENSE; MILITARY CAPABILITIES; NATIONAL SECURITY; NATURAL RESOURCES; NAVIGATION; SHIPPING; TREATIES; EEZ(EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONES); FREEDOM OF THE SEAS; INTERNATIONAL WATERS; MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS; MARITIME TRANSPORT; NAVIGABILITY; NAVIGABLE WATERS; NORTHERN SEA ROUTE; NORTHWEST PASSAGE; OIL RESERVES; SHIPPING LANES; UNCLOS(UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEAS); Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Northwest Passage; Lanes; Climate change; Northern Sea Route; Northwest passage
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA568008; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA568008

The changing Arctic environment holds significant implications for U.S. national security interests. A measurable increase in average annual temperature in the Arctic region has resulted in icecap melting. As this trend continues, U.S. national interests in the Arctic will become increasingly important. The strategic implications of this environmental change include access to previously inaccessible natural resources. Additionally, this environmental change holds the possibility for the opening of previously un-navigable trade routes that could significantly reduce transit times and shipping costs for global maritime commerce. Finally, the changing Arctic environment is opening the region to increased levels of human activity which has revealed significant gaps in key national capabilities required to support U.S. interests there. This SRP examines U.S. Arctic policy and offers recommendations for achieving the U.S. desired strategic end-state for the Arctic Region.: a stable and secure Arctic where U.S. national interests are safeguarded and the U.S. homeland is protected.