October 31, 2014

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.

capital Today's Congressional Action:

The House and Senate are not in session.

Media

Time for US and Alaska to Ramp Up Arctic Infrastructure. At long last, the US government appears poised to seize-if at times, fitfully-its Arctic Destiny. Earlier this year, in January, the federal government released its Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, following on to its May 2013 release of the National Strategy which articulates the US government's strategic priorities for this vast untapped frontier. In quick succession, the Department of Defense too issued its Arctic Strategy document in November 2013 and its Arctic Roadmap in February 2014 to realize the strategy over the 2014-2030 timeframe. The Roadmap charts out a series of focused activity areas in the sphere of operations and training, science and technology, environment observation and prediction, safe navigation, and maritime domain awareness, among others, over the next couple of years. Alaska Business Magazine

Arctic Grayling, Fish in a Changing World. Before Alaska's upper Kuparuk River freezes solid, Arctic grayling forge upstream to the deep waters of their winter haven: Green Cabin Lake. These fish live in an extreme environment and face extreme environmental changes. Their population relies on interconnected habitats as it helps sustain a diverse and productive ecosystem. How do Arctic grayling respond to habitat fragmentation caused by climate change and human interference? What steps can scientists outline to help manage the population? Researchers like Jeff Adams, fishery biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Heidi Golden, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Connecticut, who employ strategies as diverse as radio transmitters, genetic sampling and even collecting fish ear bones to learn more about the Arctic grayling. Frontier Scientists

Iceland Conference Draws on Hopes, Concerns for Changing Arctic. As winter closes its icy grip on the Arctic for another year, world leaders from around the globe are converging on this island nation in the North Atlantic to discuss what never was but might someday be in what appears to be a warming world. The Arctic Circle Assembly here, co-founded by Alaska Dispatch News publisher Alice Rogoff, is drawing both those who hope to find new riches waiting beneath the Arctic's melting ice and those who fear the changes the thaw -- and the subsequent hunt for riches -- might bring. Alaska Dispatch News

Nunavut MLA Wants Answers on Baffin Caribou Decline. Recent surveys on the declining Baffin caribou population clearly demonstrate a need for new management measures, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie said in the Nunavut legislature Oct. 24. And while the Government of Nunavut might not have a plan yet, stakeholders in the Baffin region will get a chance to meet and discuss what to do about the troubling caribou decline at a meeting in Iqaluit next week. Nunatsaiq Online

UAF Researcher Receives $4.2 Million to Research Arctic Change. University of Alaska Fairbanks researcher Hajo Eicken has received a $4.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support environmental Arctic change research, according to a release. With the funding, the project aims to improve coordination of science as well as exchange of knowledge and tools between science communities and agencies over the next five years. It also hopes to better serve the needs of science communities, Arctic residents, decision-makers and the private sector. Juneau Empire

US Special Representative for the Arctic Papp's Travel to Iceland. U.S. Special Representative for the Arctic Admiral Robert Papp will visit Reykjavik, Iceland, October 31-November 1 to attend the Arctic Circle Assembly. While in Iceland he will deliver opening remarks at the Assembly, meet with the President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, and the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, and exchange ideas with the next generation of Arctic leaders during a "Youth in the Arctic" session. He will also meet with senior officials from Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, and Singapore, as well as with participants from the states of Alaska and Maine. US Department of State

[India] Acquisition of Polar Vessel to Aid Arctic Research. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the acquisition of Polar Research Vessel by the Ministry of Earth Sciences at a total cost of `1,051.13 crore within a period of 34 months. Having its own ice-breaker, research-cum-supply vessel will give India the opportunity to explore the mineral rich area and carry out scientific experiments. The Ministry of Earth Sciences felt it was essential to have the country's own polar research vessel, considering the need to sustain two Indian research bases in Antarctica (Maitri and Bharti); dovetailing research initiatives in the Southern Ocean domain with those in the proximal regions of the Antarctic continent; widen the thrust on Arctic research disciplines undertaken through Indian Station Himadri and to provide a suitable research platform for other tropical sea programs. The New Indian Express

Legislative Action

The House and Senate did not formally consider Arctic legislation yesterday.

Future Events

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.

NSAR Tribal Consultations and Stakeholder Outreach Meetings for Department of Energy, November 5, 2014 (Kotzebue, Alaska, USA); November 6, 2014 (Nome, Alaska, USA); November 10, 2014 (Fairbanks, Alaska, USA); November 12, 2014 (Barrow, Alaska, USA); November 14, 2014 (Bethel, Alaska, USA); and November 17, 2014 (Unalaska, Alaska, USA). The Department of Energy is pleased to announce upcoming tribal consultations and stakeholder outreach meetings on the National Strategy for the Arctic Region (NSAR), Ten Year Plan to Accelerate Renewable Energy Deployment in the Arctic Region. Anchorage Tribal Consultation Meeting will be October 23, 2014, 3:30-5:30pm, Dena'ina Center, Tubughnenq Room 5 (at AFN) and the Anchorage Stakeholder Outreach Meeting will be October 24, 2014, USFWS Office, Gordon Watson Room, 1011 E. Tudor Rd. For additional information on the plan, visit here. Tribal leaders and stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments on the Ten Year Plan, submitted to IndianEnergy@hq.doe.gov, or by fax to (202) 586-1534 (by December 12, 2014).

Committee on Marine Transportation System: Vessel Activity in the US Arctic, November 6, 2014 (Webinar). As part of a White House directive under the National Strategy for the Arctic Region Implementation Plan (January 2014) to develop a 10-year projection study of maritime activity in the U.S. Arctic region, the US Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) seeks recommendations regarding the diverse variables impacting growth of vessel activity in the Arctic over the next decade. Specifically, CMTS seeks suggestions that may contribute to the design of scenarios that could influence vessel growth and any mid-term projections. An overview of the vessel projection tasker will be provided at the start of the webinar. The remaining time will be to receive suggestions to assess future vessel traffic.

Alaska Policy Commission. November 17-18, 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.

Maritime Risk Symposium, November 18-19, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA, USA). The theme for this year's Symposium will be Worldwide Chokepoints and Maritime Risks. "Chokepoint" is a common military strategy term that refers to any enclosed space, corridor, or area where large numbers of personnel and/or resources are forced to pass through, with no reasonable alternate routes. Within the maritime environment, geographical features such as a strait or canal are considered chokepoints. The event is hosted by the Homeland Security Center of the University of Southern California.

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.

AGU Fall Meeting, December 15-19, 2014 (San Francisco, CA, USA). With nearly 24,000 attendees, the AGU Fall Meeting is the largest Earth and space science meeting in the world. The AGU Fall Meeting brings together the entire Earth and space sciences community for discussions of emerging trends and the latest research. The technical program includes presentations on new and cutting-edge science, much of which has not yet been published.

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.

Alaska Marine Science Symposium, January 19-23, 2015. (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). The symposium will feature a session on the Communicating Ocean Sciences, keynote addresses, poster sessions, and workshops. As in past years, the main content of the symposium is organized by large marine ecosystem. The 2015 schedule will be: Tuesday, January 20 - Gulf of Alaska; Wednesday, January 21 - Bering Sea; and Thursday, January 22 - Arctic Ocean. The details of the 2015 Alaska Marine Science Symposium program will be available in mid-November.

Symposium on Law and Governance in the Arctic, UCI LAW, January 30-31, 2015 (Irvine, California, USA). The symposium will explore the effectiveness of existing governance in the Arctic region, strategies for improving effective implementation, and possible alternative governance regimes. A segment of the presented papers will be published in the UCI Law Review as a symposium. Presenters include: Betsy Baker, Michael Byers, Joseph DiMento, Tore Henriksen, Brian Israel, Timo Koivurova,Tullio Scovazzi, and Oran Young.

Arctic Encounter Symposium 2015: Charting a Path to US Leadership in the Far North, January 30-31, 2015 (Seattle, Washington, USA). The second annual Arctic Encounter Symposium will focus on the role of the U.S. as an Arctic nation and the challenges it will confront in its upcoming chairmanship of the Arctic Council, including: climate change, natural resources, investment opportunities, and international relations. The goal of the 2015 Arctic Encounter is to facilitate a creative environment for the development of a proactive agenda, short and long-term domestic and international priorities, and a strategic execution plan.The two-day program will take place at the University of Washington with a dinner reception on January 30, 2015 at the Museum of History and Industry.

Polar Shelves and Shelf Break Exchange in Times of Rapid Climate Warming, March 15-20, 2015 (Lucca, Italy). The GRCs provide an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies. The guiding principle of a GRC is to encourage communication and discussion of ideas and new unpublished results at the very frontier of a particular field of research, by bringing together outstanding scientists from academia, industry, and government, ranging from senior experts to Ph.D. students. With the increasing impacts of reduced sea ice and warming seawater conditions in both the Arctic and Antarctic, this conference can act as a forum for potentially transformative discussions for interdisciplinary, international and compare/contrast evaluation of polar sciences. In addition, the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will precede the GRC to provide a forum for graduate students and post-docs to present and exchange new data and cutting edge ideas with experts in the different polar fields of science.

The Polar Geography and Cryosphere, April 21-25, 2015 (Chicago, IL, USA). The Polar Geography and Cryosphere Specialty Groups of the Association of American Geographers will host its annual meeting in Chicago to consider: current topics in human-environment interactions; current topics in politics, resource geographies, and extractive industries; current topics in Antarctic research; advances in cryosphere research; high latitude environments in a changing climate; an mountain ice and snow.

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