U.S. Arctic Research Commission Commissioner Michele Longo Eder Consortium for Ocean Leadership Public Policy Forum March 10, 2010
Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) Provides a Federal program for basic & applied Arctic sci. research Establishes US Arctic Research Commission (USARC) – promote Arctic research – recommend Arctic research policy Designates NSF to lead implementation of Arctic research policy – established Interagency Arctic Research Policy Comm. (IARPC) – develop national Arctic research policy – develop 5-year plan to implement that policy
Arctic Research and Policy Act (ARPA) Federal agencies create annual budget requests specifically calling out “Arctic research” activities OSTP reviews Arctic budget requests & consults IARPC &USARC OMB reviews Arctic budget requests (conducts “cross cut”) – considers budgets as an integrated and multiagency request – ascertains that request adheres to the 5-year plan – submits request as part of President’s annual budget USARC reviews budget adherence to plan &reports to Congress
USARC: establishes research goals & sets research policy IARPC: adopts goals, creates research plan White House: OMB/OSTP Congress: Authorizers & Appropriators USARC comments on budget to Congress
US Arctic Research… …~$400M/yr across >15 federal agencies …cooperating with over a dozen nations …using research infrastructure worth billions
Trillion Dollar Issues Arctic ownership, sovereigntyArctic ownership, sovereignty Arctic resources (fish, O&G, minerals)Arctic resources (fish, O&G, minerals) Global Trade (trans-arctic & destinational shipping)Global Trade (trans-arctic & destinational shipping) Climate change mitigation/adaptationClimate change mitigation/adaptation Protecting shared values – culture & conservationProtecting shared values – culture & conservation
Goals Report Research Themes Environmental Change of the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea Arctic Human Health Civil Infrastructure Research Natural Resource Assessment & Earth Science Indigenous Languages, Identities & Cultures
New US Arctic Policy (NSPD-66/HSPD-25) National security/homeland security needs Protect environment/conserve biological resources Environmentally sustainable resource management and development Strengthen institutions for international cooperation; ratify Law of the Sea Involve indigenous communities in decisions Enhance scientific monitoring and research into local, regional and global environmental issues
USARC Sponsorships Meetings, Workshops, Symposia… Alaska Marine Science Symposium American Geophysical Union Cryosphere Reception Arctic Civil Infrastructure Workshop Arctic Energy Summit Arctic Science Summit Week Behavioral and Mental Health Research in the Arctic ICETECH Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations International Arctic Fisheries Symposium International Conference on Permafrost National Ocean Science Bowl NRDA in Arctic Waters: The Dialogue Begins Workshop Oil Spill Prevention and Response Workshop Rural Alaska Native Science Workshop State of the Arctic Conference Trade is Transportation Seminar An Ocean Infrastructure Strategy for U.S. Ocean Research in 2030 Report, NRC
Challenges and Opportunities Keeping the interagency (IARPC) effort engaged and effective. Work with NSF, OMB and OSTP to enable better process, as called for in ARPA, for developing national Arctic research program and associated budget.
USARC/USCG Arctic Domain Awareness Flight September 15, 2009