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Final call... Not yet voted for the USARC, but would like to? Please do so here. (go to the bottom of the page and fill in the form). As of 8/14, about 350 votes had been tallied.
We're a nominee for the 2014 Robert O. Anderson Sustainable Arctic Award, from the Institute of the North.
USARC has regularly and persuasively called for greater assessment of Arctic natural resources, which is an initial step towards development. In fact, better resource assessment is one of the Commission's five major goals in our biennial report to the President and to Congress. In part, this means improved mapping of Arctic lands (topographic maps) and offshore regions (marine charts). Such products are used by the general public and by industry, for a wide variety of purposes, and are considered by public policy experts in making informed decisions on sustainable development of non-renewable (fossil energy, minerals) and renewable (fish, animals, energy) natural resources. As a member of the US delegation, USARC provided support and assistance in the effort to facilitate the creation of Arctic Economic Council (AEC) that is associated with the Arctic Council. The AEC will work to foster sustainable development, including economic growth, environmental protection and social development in the Arctic. In creating the AEC, USARC encouraged the participation of appropriate experts from the State of Alaska and the private sector.
 Today's Congressional Action:
Most members have returned to their districts or states for the August recess. The Senate will hold pro forma sessions during August. The next roll call vote in the Senate is scheduled for September 8th. The House is also in recess until September 8th.
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 US Arctic Representative Tours Alaska. The United States Special Representative for the Arctic is visiting Alaska. Retired Coast guard Admiral Robert Papp is charged with managing the country's entire Arctic portfolio. That includes investigation of issues and potential claims to arctic waters off Alaska's northern coastline. Admiral Papp spoke with KUAC's Dan Bross earlier today and said he's in Alaska to help determine the primary goals and challenges for the U.S. in the region. Alaska Public Radio
Iqaluit Food Market Promises Freshly Harvested Produce. Iqaluit is more than 2,000 kilometres away from farmers' markets in southern Canada, but that won't be an issue on Aug. 30, when a fresh food market comes to the city. Iqalummiut will have a chance to buy fresh fruits, vegetables and cheeses from Quebec and Ontario that day, thanks to a pilot project by a group of residents. Nunatsiaq Online
US Denies Attack Submarine 'Expelled' From Barents Sea. Reports that a U.S. Navy submarine was chased from away from Russian controlled waters by Russian anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft on Aug. 7 are false, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) officials told USNI News on Monday. "There is no truth to this story; there was no US submarine in the area," read a statement from EUCOM. "Unknown on other nations, but it was not US, and we had nothing in any boundary area on the day in question." USNI News
 Marine Safety: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of SAR. Should all go as planned, a cruise ship is going to run into problems in the Canadian Arctic on August 24, forcing the evacuation of all 300 passengers on board. Not the plot of an of evil mastermind, the mock incident will be centrepiece of Operation Nanook, the Canadian military's largest recurring operation in the North.The focus of this year's exercise, which runs from August 20 to 29, will be search and rescue (SAR) operations in the waters off the country's northern coast, and will feature two exercises. Arctic Journal
Nunavik-Labrador Caribou Herd Numbers Plummeting. As Nunavummiut struggle to understand the plummeting caribou population on Baffin Island, residents in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are dealing with their own caribou crisis. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced Aug. 14 that the George River woodland caribou herd, whose range overlaps Quebec and Labrador, has declined to roughly 14,200 animals - down from 27,600 in 2012. Nunatsiaq Online
The Russian Far East, the Arctic and Foreign Trade. I wrote earlier about the diamond mine located in Mirny, a city in the Sakha Republic in the Russian Far East (RFE). This area of North Asia is full of resources like oil, gas, and minerals, but only has 6.3 million people spread out across its entire area. More than half of the population is concentrated in Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai, on the Sea of Japan. The Russian Far East plays an important role in the Arctic for several reasons. First, there is a long history of ties between certain indigenous peoples in the RFE and Alaska. The Yupik peoples, for instance, lived on both sides of the Bering Strait in Chukotka and Alaska, only to be separated for decades by the "ice curtain" of the Cold War. Alaska Dispatch News
 Parenell Signs Resolution Opposing Beringia International Park as Threat to Development. Gov. Sean Parnell has signed into law legislation opposing development of the Beringia international park. Senate Joint Resolution 15 urges the federal government to end efforts "pursuing the creation of an International Park" stretching from Northwest Alaska into Russia. "This is a park that has been going forward quietly over the years. It sounds like such a laudable goal," said state Sen. Cathy Giessel, who sponsored the resolution and wants an end to the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Russia out of concern over Alaska's resources. "My concern, however, is it's a United Nations designation that could affect the use of our natural resources." Alaska Dispatch News
Scientists Probe Poorly Understood Linkage Between Melting Arctic and Extreme Weather. Snowmageddon in Washington, D.C. Extreme floods in the United Kingdom last winter. A Texas heat wave two years ago. For scientists, they all may be a byproduct of a warming Arctic. Or they might not, as much of the research on causation is still in early stages. A new review article, released yesterday in Nature Geoscience, offers one additional theory about the link between the Arctic and extreme weather in midlatitudes, pointing to a possible connection between snow in Siberia and unusual events in much of the United States, Europe and East Asia. But ultimately, the synthesis paper reports that much of the science remains uncertain about the link, as there is contradictory evidence for all of the main theories. E&E News
Marine Invasive Species in the Arctic. Arctic marine ecosystems are among the most productive and most vulnerable in the world, both from an economic and ecological perspective of growing accessibility. The complexity of Arctic marine ecosystems and their location poses challenges for management, valuation, and the establishment of sound policy to protect them. Arctic Journal
 Obama Administration Takes Step Toward Issuing Arctic Drilling Rules. The Interior Department sent draft regulations for drilling in the Arctic Ocean to the Office of Management and Budget, setting the stage for a future battle over the strength of the safeguards. No specifics have been released about the draft rules, which were filed on Friday. But the move is a sign that the Obama administration plans to forge ahead with Arctic drilling, albeit with some checks in place. Too weak of standards would anger environmentalists who say the area is too fragile for drilling - many simply oppose any activity in the Arctic. But it would appease industry groups and congressional Republicans who have said the White House needs to act faster so Arctic competitors like Russia don't gain an edge. Washington Examiner
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Legislative Action
No Arctic legislation was formally considered Friday.
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Future Events
Alaska Policy Commission Meeting, August 26-27, 2014 (Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska) The public is invited to observe the Commission in their work from 8:30am - 4pm. The Commission will accept public testimony on Arctic Policy issues at 11:30am in Nome (location TBD) and 12:30pm in Kotzebue at the Nullaġvik Hotel. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign up to give public testimony. All voices and perspectives are welcome and appreciated. For the meeting agenda, additional information, and updates please visit here.
World Trade Center Alaska: Arctic Ambitions Trade Mission to Northern Europe, September 4-14, 2014 (Finland-Norway-Iceland). The Trade Mission will visit Northern and Arctic Europe starting September 4th in Finland and ending September 14 in Iceland, with an intermediary stop in Norway. The itinerary includes three days in each country and features visits to Arctic communities. Familiarization with Northern Europe's economies, and in particular commercial development in the Arctic, is the main goal of this trade mission. The participants will gain useful networking opportunities and a wealth of information on these three countries. For registration and information, please contact WTCAK at (907) 278-7233.
Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, September 9-11, 2014 (Whitehorse, Canada). The Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region is a biennial conference for parliamentarians representing the eight Arctic countries and the European Parliament. The biennial conference is attended by representatives from the national parliaments of the Arctic states and the European Parliament. The Arctic indigenous peoples are permanent participants to the cooperation. Observers participate from governments and inter-parliamentary organizations as well as from observer states and relevant international organizations.
AOOS Film Contest, Submission Deadline September 15, 2014.
In celebration of its 10th Anniversary, Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is seeking short films highlighting Alaska's coast or oceans. AOOS welcomes films of any genre relating to the ocean (i.e. people using the ocean and coast, marine research, marine wildlife, ocean-related policy issues, etc). You don't need to be a professional to submit a film!
102nd US Arctic Research Commission Meeting, September 15-16, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). The 102nd USARC meeting will be held in Anchorage. Draft agenda available here.
2014 Week of the Arctic, October 6-11, 2014 (Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow, Alaska, USA). The Institute of the North will host the 2014 Week of the Arctic. The 2014 Week of the Arctic is a platform for community leaders, subject matter experts and interested stakeholders to learn about the Arctic while contributing to a growing list of priorities and perspectives. Presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops will be held in Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow. Throughout the week, presentations and interviews will be captured on video for distribution through social media and web-based sharing.
2014 FAMOS School and Workshop #3, October 21-24, 2014 (Woods Hole, MA). The Forum for Arctic Ocean Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) is an international effort to focus on enhancing collaboration and coordination among Arctic marine and sea ice modelers, theoreticians and observationalists synthesize major results from the field studies and coordinated numerical experiments. The major themes of workshop include but not limited by studies focused on: predictions; Arctic observational and modeling initiatives; fate of sea ice in models and observations; atmospheric, sea ice and ocean dynamics; process studies and parameterizations; model validation and calibration; numerical improvements and algorithms; ecosystems, biological issues, and geochemistry.
Transatlantic Science Week 2014, October 27-28, 2014 (Toronto, Canada). The purpose of the annual Transatlantic Science Week (TSW) is to promote enhanced cooperation between Canadian, American and Norwegian stakeholders in research, innovation and higher education. TSW is an arena where different stakeholders can meet with the purpose of developing long-term collaborations or partnerships. The conference also hopes to strengthen the linkages that currently exist between the research and education domains. Finally, TSW also provides an excellent arena for dialogue between the research communities and policymakers.
Arctic Circle, October 31-November 2, 2014 (Reykjavik, Iceland).
The Arctic Circle is nonprofit and nonpartisan. Organizations, forums, think tanks, corporations and public associations around the world are invited to hold meetings within the Arctic Circle platform to advance their own missions and the broader goal of increasing collaborative decision-making without surrendering their institutional independence. The Arctic Circle will organize sessions on a variety of issues, such as: Sea ice melt and extreme weather; Polar law: treaties and agreements; The role and rights of indigenous peoples; Security in the Arctic; Shipping and transportation infrastructure; The prospects and risks of oil and gas drilling; Clean energy achievements and sustainable development; Arctic resources; Business cooperation in the Arctic; The role of Asian and European countries in the Arctic; Greenland in the new Arctic; Fisheries and ecosystem management; The science of ice: global research cooperation; Arctic tourism; The ice-dependent world: the Arctic and the Himalayas.
US- Canada Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum, November 4-6, 2014 (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada). Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Canadian Polar Commission in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, are hosting the fourth Canada - United States Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum. The Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum is a biennial meeting with representation from government, industry, academia, Aboriginal groups and Northerners from both Canada and the United States. The Forum provides an opportunity to discuss current and future priorities for northern oil and gas research. The Forum will showcase the value of northern research in support of sound decision-making for oil and gas management.
Alaska Policy Commission. November 13-14, 2014 (Anchorage, Alaska). The Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (AAPC) has more important work to do in 2014. The Commission will strive to gather public input and engage with Alaskan communities, state agencies, federal partners, and the international organizations working in the Arctic. In order to meet our goals AAPC will convene three in-person meetings over the course of 2014 and focus on implementation and final recommendations.
The Arctic Biodiversity Congress, December 2-4, 2014 (Trondheim, Norway). The Arctic Biodiversity Congress will present and discuss the main scientific findings of the ABA; facilitate inter-disciplinary discussion, action and status updates on the policy recommendations in the ABA; provide scientific, policy, management, NGO, academia, Indigenous peoples and industry audiences the opportunity to collaborate around the themes of the ABA; advise CAFF on national and international implementation of the ABA recommendations and on the development of an ABA Implementation Plan for the Arctic Council; highlight the work of CAFF and the Arctic Council on circumpolar biodiversity conservation and sustainable development; and, contribute to mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services, ensuring that the recommendations of the ABA are implemented by not just governments, but many organizations and people across disciplines.
Arctic Change 2014, December 8-12, 2014 (Ottawa, Canada). The international Arctic Change 2014 conference aims to stimulate discussion and foster collaborations among people with a vested interest in the Arctic and its peoples. Coinciding with the pinnacle of Canada's chairmanship of the Arctic Council and marking ArcticNet's 10th anniversary, Arctic Change 2014 welcomes researchers, students, Northerners, policy makers, and stakeholders from all fields of Arctic research and all countries to address the numerous environmental, social, economical and political challenges and opportunities that are emerging from climate change and modernization in the Arctic. With over 1000 participants expected to attend, Arctic Change 2014 will be one of the largest trans-sectoral international Arctic research conferences ever held in Canada.
Arctic Frontiers: Climate and Energy, January 18-23, 2015. The earth is in the midst of major climate changes. The Arctic is experiencing the impact of these changes more and faster than other parts of the globe. Processes starting in the Arctic may have deep and profound impacts on other parts of the globe. At the same time the Earth's population is rising and with it the global energy demand. New and greener energy sources are gaining market shares, but still the energy mix of the foreseeable future will have a substantial fossil component. The Arctic is expected to hold major oil and gas resources, while the regions green energy potentials are less explored. The Arctic Frontiers conference is a central arena for discussions of Arctic issues. The conference brings together representatives from science, politics, and civil society to share perspectives on how upcoming challenges in the Arctic may be addressed to ensure sustainable development. Arctic Frontiers is composed of a policy section and a scientific section.
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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.
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