Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

• Main Author: O'Rourke, Ronald
• Other Authors: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Meteorology; Government and Political Science; Geography; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *CLIMATE CHANGE; *GEOPOLITICS; *GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN); *POLICIES; *STRATEGY; *UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; AGREEMENTS; CANADA; COAST GUARD; COMPETITION; COOPERATION; CRUDE OIL; DENMARK; ENDANGERED SPECIES; FISHERIES; ICEBREAKERS; INDIGENOUS POPULATION; LEGISLATION; MILITARY OPERATIONS; MINERALS; NATIONAL SECURITY; NATURAL GAS; NAVY; NORWAY; OIL POLLUTION; RUSSIA; SEA ICE; SEARCH AND RESCUE; SHIPPING; *ARCTIC COUNTRIES; TERRITORIAL CLAIMS; TERRITORIAL DISPUTES; ARPA(ARCTIC RESEARCH AND POLICY ACT 1984); ARCTIC POLICY DIRECTIVE 2009; NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY 2010; NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ARCTIC REGION 2013; UNCLOS(UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA); SEA ICE REDUCTION; ICE-FREE SEASONS; OIL EXPLORATION; GAS EXPLORATION; MINERAL EXPLORATION; TOURISM; Arctic; Canada; Norway; Climate change; Law of the Sea; Sea ice; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA595225; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA595225

The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. Issues such as Arctic sovereignty claims; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international cooperation or competition. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress, the executive branch, foreign governments, international organizations, and commercial firms make on Arctic-related issues could significantly affect these interests. This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. Congressional readers with questions about an issue discussed in this report should contact the author or authors of the section discussing that issue. The authors are identified by footnote at the start of each section. This report does not track legislation on specific Arctic-related issues. For tracking of legislative activity, see the CRS reports relating to specific Arctic-related issues. CRS Report for Congress.