U.S. Interests in the Arctic
The United States has been an arctic nation, with important interests in the region, since the purchase of Alaska over a century ago. National security, economic development and scientific research are important U.S. interests in the region. U.S. Arctic policy emphasizes environmental protection, sustainable development, human health and the role of indigenous people.
The United States is also interested in expanding international cooperation to identify and address issues of common concern to residents of the Arctic. Also important is the inclusion of indigenous knowledge in the activities of the Arctic Council's five Working Groups.
Activities in the Arctic Council
The United States is active in all of the Arctic Council Working Groups, serving as Chair of CAFF and ACAP during the 2002-2004 period. In addition, the U.S. is providing substantial support for the Council's Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) initiative. ACIA is expected to lead to the development of fundamental and useful information for the nations of the Arctic region, their economy, resources, and people.
Under the framework of the Sustainable Development Working Group, the U.S. provides leadership for several activities in the areas of human health and transportation infrastructure. Links and points of contact for these initiatives follow.
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)
http://www.acia.uaf.edu
ACIA secretariat: Professor Gunter Weller
Executive Director
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 USA
E-mail: gunter@gi.alaska.edu
International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) for Infectious Disease
ICS Point of Contact in the U.S.: Alan J. Parkinson, Ph.D.
R-mail; ajp1@cdc.gov
Telemedicine-Phase 2
Point of Contact: Ms. Karen Perdue, Associate Vice President for Health, University of Alaska
E-mail: Karen.Perdue@alaska.edu
Arctic Health Disparities Network (eHealth)
http://arctichealth.nlm.nih.gov
Point of Contact: Philip S. Chen, Ph.D.
E-mail: pc17w@nih.gov
Circumpolar Infrastructure Task Force
Point of Contact: Institute of the North, Ben Ellis
E-mail: Benellisco@aol.com
Arctic Policy Group (APG)
The U.S. Arctic Policy Group is a federal interagency working group comprised of those agencies with programs and/or involvement in research and monitoring, land and natural resources management, environmental protection, human health, transportation and policy making in the Arctic. The APG is chaired by the Department of State and meets monthly to develop and implement U.S. programs and policies in the Arctic, including those relevant to the activities of the Arctic Council.
Ad Hoc Working Group
The Ad Hoc Working Group consists of representatives of the State of Alaska, Native organizations, universities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal agencies in Alaska. It serves as the principal mechanism for providing a consolidated Alaskan viewpoint on Arctic issues to the Department of State and other federal policymakers in Washington, D.C. For information on how to join the Ad Hoc Working Group, e-mail the following point of contact: Charles Abernathy.
E-mail: cabernathy@sso.org
Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS)
The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) was formed in 1988 to identify and bring together the human and facilities resources of the Arctic research community in the United States. ARCUS is a non-profit corporation consisting of institutions organized and operated for educational, professional, or scientific purposes. The ARCUS headquarters and staff are located in Fairbanks, Alaska. For more information please contact info@arcus.org. The ARCUS website is http://www.arcus.org/ARCUS/about.html
NOAA's Arctic Theme Page
http://www.arctic.noaa.gov
LINKS
ALASKA SITES
