| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arctic Reading for the Quarantine:
Newly shared reports this week.
(The Polar Institute and the Belfer Center's Arctic Initiative) Policy and Action on Plastic in the Arctic Ocean, 2020. The Polar Institute and the Belfer Center's Arctic Initiative co-hosted a workshop in October 2019 with the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government entitled, Policy and Action on Plastic in the Arctic Ocean. The event convened global thought leaders, diverse stakeholders, and subject matter experts to begin developing a framework for tackling Arctic marine plastic pollution as one of the focus areas for the Icelandic Chairmanship.
 (Alaska Arctic Observatory & Knowledge Hub) AAOKH Presentation at the Alaska Forum on the Environment, 2020. It was a pleasure and privilege to share observations and information about AAOKH. Taikuu and quyanaqpak!! Graduate student Roberta Glenn made the room stop with her Iñupiaq introduction and then told us about her upcoming coastal erosion monitoring research, Kotzebue Observer Bobby Schaeffer made clear the "unheard of" ice and ocean conditions in his region during 2019, UAF climatologist Rick Thoman gave us the broader context, and Elena Sparrow explained youth and education opportunities. Donna Hauser moderated and introduced AAOKH to the audience.
|
Implementing Marine Management in the Arctic Ocean. The Wilson Center's Polar Institute and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) released a report on 'Implementing Marine Management in the Arctic Ocean.' The report chronicles recent efforts at the international level to address the challenges posed by increasing human activity in the Arctic Ocean, a result of climate change and other factors, and offers suggestions for strengthening Arctic Ocean governance.
Wilson Center
[Opinion] How a President Biden Could Meet the Challenges of the New Arctic. Former Vice President Joe Biden's recent "Foreign Affairs" essay outlines the contours of American foreign policy if he were President. He presents a sharp, pointed and expansive rebuke of President Trump's "America first" approach. The plan is broad in scope, but fails to mention what is perhaps the world's most dynamic and rapidly changing region, the Arctic. The Arctic Ocean covers an area greater than the United States and over half the size of Africa. It is inextricably linked to the global political, social, economic, environmental and security landscapes. The Arctic is not an "emerging" region. It has emerged.
The Hill
Increasingly Mobile Sea Ice Risks Polluting Arctic Neighbors with Oil and Microplastics. The movement of sea ice between Arctic countries is expected to significantly increase this century, raising the risk of more widely transporting pollutants like microplastics and oil between neighboring coastal states, according to new research from McGill University in collaboration with University of Colorado Boulder, Columbia University, and Arizona State University.
Science Daily
 Food Production During the Corona Crisis: Awareness of Worldwide Resource Planning. In order to keep these processes up, Norway has among others simplified the procedures for temporarily permitted workers to support logistics and farming. It has been mentioned that the degree of self-sufficiency in some food products is low in Norway and the Arctic, and that the corona crisis is a chance to increase self-sufficiency. (see, for example, the article on "Food Security in the Arctic before and after COVID-19" by Alexandra Middleton on April 6th in High North News). While some of the capacity and discussions around food security are known to all citizens, Norway has also set up a food preparedness council which has established stores with capacities kept secret.
High North News
Sharks, Whales, Polar Bears, and Other Large Marine Animals At-risk of Extinction by 2120 Due to Climate Change, Scientists Say. A new study explains that one of the world's large marine animals could go extinct in the next century. The most at-risk from climate change, the megafauna and 18 percent of the largest marine animals could be lost forever by the year 2120, according to UK scientists. If all currently endangered marine megafauna- including sharks, whales, polar bears, sea turtles, and emperor penguins-are eventually lost, this could rise to 40 percent beyond this timeframe.
Science Times
USCG Polar Security Cutters: The History and Future. Meanwhile, Russia has approximately 30 active polar icebreakers, including four that are nuclear powered. Arktika, the first of a new class of three heavy polar icebreakers, has commenced sea trials in the Gulf of Finland, with the other two under construction. Recently plans were approved for a new super-icebreaker larger and more powerful than any in existence. At the end of World War II, the United States had seven Wind-class icebreakers, the most technologically advanced icebreakers in the world.
MarineLink
Join a research coordination network. We invite
traditional knowledge holders, natural and social scientists, engineers,  students, economists, health professionals, cultural heritage workers, and educators to join our new, free network titled "
Migration in Harmony" created by support from the National Science Foundation.
Migration in Harmony: An Interdisciplinary Network on Coastal Species, Settlements, and Cultures on the Move (MiH-RCN) is an international initiative to synthesize current research and build collaborative project teams to support a resilient, just, and sustainable Arctic. We (Georgetown Univ., Univ. Alaska Anchorage, and The Arctic Institute) strive to nurture a sense of community within the network by providing education, training, and exchange opportunities for all members. Network membership includes a monthly newsletter with member news, exclusive publications and research, and travel opportunities to annual meetings. Join
here
.
|
|
Future Events
Ground Truth Briefing: Policy and Action on Plastic Pollution in the Arctic Ocean, April 23, 2020 (Teleconference). The Wilson Center's Polar Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative recently released a report entitled "Policy and Action on Plastic Pollution in the Arctic Ocean." This report describes the nature of challenges posed by Arctic marine plastic pollution and provides targeted recommendations to policymakers and researchers; it is based on a workshop the two organizations co-hosted with the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Ambassador David Balton, Brittany Janis, Halla Hrund Logadóttir, and Marisol Maddox will discuss the report, the challenges of Arctic marine plastic pollution, and recommendations to combat plastic pollution in the Arctic Ocean.
ICESAT-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek, June 15-19, 2020 (Seattle, Washington USA). ICESat-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek is a 5-day hackweek to be held at the University of Washington. Participants will learn about technologies used to access and process ICESat-2 data with a focus on the cryosphere. Mornings will consist of interactive lectures, and afternoon sessions will involve facilitated exploration of datasets and hands-on software development.
Arctic Circle Assembly, October 8-11, 2020 (Reykjavik, Iceland). The annual Arctic Circle Assembly is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more than 2000 participants from 60 countries. It is attended by heads of states and governments, ministers, members of parliaments, officials, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, indigenous representatives, environmentalists, students, activists and others from the growing international community of partners and participants interested in the future of the Arctic.
3rd Arctic Science Ministerial, November 21-22, 2020 (Toyko, Japan). Since the last Arctic Science Ministerial in 2018, changes in the Arctic ecosystem and the resulting impacts locally and globally have been severely felt. While the reasons for these changes in climate largely stem from activities outside of the Arctic, the Arctic is warming at a rate of nearly double the global average. Considering the need for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and repair measures, the relevance of an international Arctic Science Ministerial has never been greater. It is necessary to strengthen scientific cooperation and collaboration among both Arctic and non-Arctic States in order to develop our understanding of the rapid changes impacting the Arctic. The First Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM1) was hosted by the United States in 2016, and two years later, the Second Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM2) was co-hosted by Germany, Finland, and the European Commission. The Third Arctic Science Ministerial will be co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.
Arctic Science Summit Week, March 20-26, 2021 (Lisbon, Portugal). The Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Local Organizing Committee will host the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021. The Conference is organized by FCT, Ciência Viva, AIR Center, the Portuguese Arctic Community and by IASC and partners. Framed by the overarching theme for the Science Conference "The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts," Lisbon invites International experts on the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples to discuss the "New Arctic" and also its impacts and interactions to and with the lower latitudes.
|
| 
  
4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 510
Arlington, VA 22203, USA
External links in this publication, and on the USARC's World Wide Web site (
www.arctic.gov) do not constitute endorsement by the US Arctic Research Commission of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the USARC does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this newsletter and the USARC Web site.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
