Accession Number:

AD1023215

Title:

Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Congressional Research Service Washington United States

Personal Author(s):

• O'Rourke,Ronald

Report Date:

2016-12-07

Pagination or Media Count:

113.0

Abstract:

The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the regions future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region. On January 21, 2015, President Obama issued an executive order for enhancing coordination of national efforts in the Arctic. The United States assumed the chairmanship of the Arctic Council on April 24, 2015, and will serve in that capacity for two years.

Descriptors:

• ARCTIC OCEAN
• ICE
• marine transportation
• environmental protection
• interagency coordination
• national security
• united states government
• international law
• public policy
• department of state
• indigenous population
• oil spills
• international organizations
• climate change
• continental shelves

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
• Meteorology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE