Secretary of State John Kerry announced this month that the U.S. will appoint an Envoy to the Arctic. The new position comes at the request of Alaskan lawmakers like Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) who argue that an official ambassador is necessary for the U.S. to remain competitive in the region.
The Obama Administration is strengthening its message on global climate change. In a series of speeches this February, Secretary of State John Kerry called upon the global community to do what they could to immediately reduce the impacts of climate change.
On January 22, the U.S. Navy previewed a new strategy for the Arctic polar region at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, updating their 2009 plan.
This December, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released its 2013 Sustainability Plan, which aims to cut energy use and waste throughout the Department.
The National Academies Press released a new report, “Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises,” providing an updated overview of the potential effects of climate change.