Historically, the Arctic hasn’t been at the forefront of the minds of most Americans, but its increasing presence in domestic and global discussions on geopolitics, security, environmental policy, and energy signal an expectation for increased engagement and strong leadership from the United States as it assumes the chair of the Arctic Council this year. This is the second time the US will assume that role since the inception of the Arctic
Council in 1996.
The US is devoting more attention and resources to the Arctic
As global attention has increased toward the melting Arctic and in the lead up to its Arctic
Council chairship, the US has focused more resources to the region. The top three US positions pertaining to the Arctic Council are housed in the State Department. The US
Senior Arctic Official will continue to be Julia Gourley; the Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials will be David Balton, and the US Special Representative to the Arctic is Admiral Robert
Papp, former Commandant of the Coast Guard. Additionally, in August 2014 it was announced that a Congressional Arctic Working Group was being formed “to bring needed attention to Arctic policy and to make sure the U.S. can secure its economic, strategic and environmental interests in the region.” 1
This working group is intended to weigh in on domestic issues to the Arctic Council. There have also been recent Congressional proposals to appoint an ambassador-level position to the Arctic Council.
Under Canada’s chairship, the Arctic Council’s focus has been decidedly pro-industry, working under the theme “Development for the People of the North.” While the people of the
North were spotlighted in the Canadian government’s press materials, under Canada’s leadership, the Arctic Council has pursued several initiatives and policies that show the real themes of the Canadian chairship were promoting the interests of big business, disempowering Northerners, and opposing serious action on climate change. In fact,
Canada’s chairship was the first in several years to not specifically include climate change as part of a theme or a major priority.
While public statements from the US and Canada have claimed that the two countries ’ priorities are aligned for their consecutive tenures, the US stated agenda points the US
1 Press release. “Congressional Arctic Working Group will help better coordinate and advance US Arctic policy.” 8/5/14 http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-and-young-us-cannot-afford-neglect-arctic

Chairship toward a much needed focus on environmental issues that impact the people of the North and the entire planet. The theme of the US chairship , “One Arctic: Shared opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities,” encompasses three proposed focus areas:
Arctic Ocean safety, security and stewardship – improving search and rescue ability and infrastructure, addressing marine environmental protection, and addressing Arctic Ocean acidification
Improving economic and living conditions in the region
– this will include demonstrations of renewable energy and other projects in the region
Addressing the impacts of climate change – this will include more research to address black carbon and methane and addressing adaptation and resilience
Recommendations for the US Chairship
Bring the proposal of an Arctic Sanctuary to the Arctic Council
Greenpeace is calling on the US to seize the chairship as an opportunity to facilitate a conversation among the Arctic states and Permanent Participants about an Arctic
Sanctuary over the currently ice-covered, uninhabited region over the central Arctic Ocean.
This proposed sanctuary would be part of a network of marine reserves in the Arctic region that are off limits to extraction and industrial-scale fishing, giving the vulnerable region greater protection against the impacts of climate change.
There are several factors that support the US seizing the opportunity to champion an Arctic
Sanctuary during its Chairship. In 2013, the Finnish government adopted an official stance in support of an Arctic Sanctuary and is in a place to see the idea to fruition in its place as the next Arctic Council Chair. The European Parliament took a similar position in support in
2014.
2
In 2009, a commercial ban on industrial-scale fishing in US Arctic waters that was enacted
3
and there is the strong momentum toward a global ban on industrial-scale fishing in the previously unfished waters of the Arctic high seas.
4
Finally, the recognition of the proposed sanctuary area as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) by the
UN Convention on Biodiversity helps to build the scientific case. What is needed now is for
2 http://www.marinelink.com/news/sanctuary-arctic-sought365420.aspx
3 http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ban-commercial-fishing-arctic-global-warming/
4 http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/03/06/five-nations-tentatively-agree-to-arctic-fishing-ban/

leadership from the Arctic Council to move the conversation among nations and Permanent
Participants forward.
Increase funding and support for Permanent Participants
The Indigenous peoples of the Arctic should receive greater and more consistent long-term funding and support to participate in conversations and shape decisions within the Arctic
Council. The Ottawa Declaration states the inclusion of Permanent Participants was intended “to provide for active participation and full consultation with the Arctic Indigenous representatives within the Arctic Council.” However, Arctic states have not stepped up to adequately support this vision and we urge the US to take appropriate steps to do so during its chairship.
Invite Renewable Energy Sector to the Arctic Economic Council
The Arctic Economic Council will be a significant obstacle to environmental progress and to accomplishing some of the goals of the US Chairship unless it brings specific sectors, namely renewable energy, to the table. If the US wants the Arctic Council to take seriously the work to improve the economic and living conditions in the region and address adaptation to climate change, it should mandate the AEC to bring diverse business interests that will provide renewable energy more readily to rural regions. This will help to serve the immediate energy needs of local residents, provide local jobs, and truly support small and medium businesses rather than fossil fuel giants.
Lead by Example: No Arctic Drilling
While the inclusion of climate change among the US Chair agenda themes signals an attempt to return to the inaugural mandate of the Arctic Council – environmental protection and sustainable development – the US will need to be aggressive in driving this agenda and strengthening the support for it from the other Arctic nations and Permanent Participants.
The recent approval for offshore oil and gas lease sales and the expected approval of Shell
Oil’s exploration plan, however, undermine statements of addressing climate change. It will be a challenge for the US to keep the credibility it needs to push a climate-focused agenda if it supports Arctic drilling at home. Greenpeace strongly urges the US to deny Shell’s
Exploration Plan and remaining drilling permits and commit to no fossil fuel extraction in US
Arctic waters.
Just as President Obama is right in scrutinizing the Keystone XL pipeline proposal for its climate emissions, so he should do exactly the same with Arctic drilling. To do otherwise is

hypocritical and will undermine efforts by the US Arctic Council team to facilitate meaningful conversations on climate change and ocean acidification within the working groups, task forces, and SAO discussions. The recent and widely circulated study published in Nature
5 identifies the Arctic as the region on the planet where no fossil fuel extraction should occur to avoid a global climate tipping point. As such, Greenpeace calls on the US to lead by example as it assumes the Chairship by enacting policies that reflect the gravity and urgency of climate change and the impact it is having on the people and ecosystem of the
Arctic and around the world.
Admiral Papp has said the US will ramp up the Arctic Council’s activities, that it needs “to put the Arctic Council on steroids” 6
; this approach is indeed needed after the Arctic
Council’s lack of action under the Canadian government. Greenpeace calls on the US to employ bold leadership during its chairship to redirect the Arctic Council toward environmental protection the Arctic so badly needs.
–30–
For more information:
Diego Creimer, Communications officer, 514-999-6743, dcreimer@greenpeace.org
5 McGlade & Ekins. “The geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused when limited global warming to 2 °C”.
2015.
6 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de5fb444-c5e5-11e4-bd6b-00144feab7de.html#axzz3WutJSi45