The Arctic

alaska’s center for arctic policy

The Next Great Global Commons

A warming Arctic presents both challenges and opportunities. New climate patterns, trade routes and resource access will reshape our world, and dramatically impact local communities. Sustainability in this competitive landscape will require new levels of cooperation among both Arctic and non-Arctic states. We work with stakeholders to help facilitate collaboration and set a new standard in this global commons.

The Institute of the North informs strategic public policy and cultivates an engaged citizenry focused on socio-economic development in the Arctic. We support responsible development and collaborative management of commonly owned resources for individual and community prosperity. Our work seeks to understand and communicate the reality and richness of the Arctic and the responsibility of those who live and work there.

Arctic Policy Map

the who’s who of arctic policy

With no central regulatory authority, Arctic policy is driven by collaboration between government and non-government entities, through venues like the Arctic Council. This map features organizations engaged around the world.

More About the Map

We depend upon the input of our network to maintain the accuracy of this map. Suggested revisions can be submitted through the information window of individual organizations. If there is a significant organization we missed, you can submit a suggestion. Before you do, however, please note the following:

To keep the map manageable, we have had to draw some boundaries around what to include and not.

  • Organizations must be engaged in Arctic policy on an ongoing basis (i.e. not on a one-off project)
  • Focus is on public and non-profit organizations, not private contractors
  • Forums & events must be reoccurring or considered a standalone organization
  • Universities and research stations are not included unless they specifically host an independent Arctic-focused organization. UArctic and INTERACT will be our references for those

Featured Projects

Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship

The Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship (ARCYF) is a one-year, paid fellowship designed to empower northern youth to advance responsible development and contribute to greater resilience and prosperity of their communities. The program envisions an Arctic future shaped by those most directly affected, by giving them the tools to help influence decision making.

ArcBlue

ArcBlue is a three-year program sponsored by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project aims to contribute to both blue value creation and development of competence in the fisheries and aqua-/mariculture sectors. It also seeks to facilitate cooperation and knowledge exchange within the blue economies of Northern Norway, Alaska, and Greenland.

AlaskaNor

AlaskaNor is a research project aimed at sharing knowledge related to the blue economy in Alaska and North Norway. The project produced four reports focusing on governance, and the fisheries/mariculture, shipping and energy sectors.

Project Library

AIEP

AIEP

The aim of the ArcBlue project is to contribute to both blue value creation and development of competence. It will also aim to promote both the exchange of knowledge and cooperation within the blue sectors of fisheries and aqua-/mariculture in the Arctic regions of Northern Norway, Alaska, and Greenland.
ArcBlue

ArcBlue

The aim of the ArcBlue project is to contribute to both blue value creation and development of competence. It will also aim to promote both the exchange of knowledge and cooperation within the blue sectors of fisheries and aqua-/mariculture in the Arctic regions of Northern Norway, Alaska, and Greenland.
Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship

Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship

Through a series of online workshops, fellows will engage in inter-regional community-based research where they will navigate the intersection of Western science and Indigenous knowledge to address the impacts of climate change in Arctic communities.
Arctic Fisheries

Arctic Fisheries

The Institute of the North, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State, and a myriad of other state and national organizations hosted the International Arctic Fisheries Symposium, in which 180 delegates from eight nations met in Anchorage.
Northern Regions Mining Summit

Northern Regions Mining Summit

The Northern Regions Mining Summit, hosted by the Institute of the North in May 2014, addressed the social, cultural and economic impact and opportunity of mineral resource development for Northern peoples in Alaska, Canada and Greenland.
Hickel Day of the Arctic and ROA Award

Hickel Day of the Arctic and ROA Award

The Hickel Day of the Arctic is organized annually by the Institute of the North to keep attention to Arctic issues and to recognize Hickel’s commitment to the region, including in 1964 to publish an article in Reader’s Digest titled The Day of the Arctic.
Arctic Policy Tours

Arctic Policy Tours

The Institute of the North has hosted productive and meaningful visits for Alaska’s leaders to neighboring Arctic states over the last five years with delegations visiting Norway, Iceland, Finland, Greenland, and to Chukotka.
Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas

Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas

The Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group has initiated work on an online Arctic Renewable Energy Atlas to provide solar, wind, geothermal, marine and hydrokinetic resource maps.
North x North – Innovation

North x North – Innovation

We are inviting participation from across Alaska and the Arctic, individuals who are experts in their field and interested in problem-solving and international collaboration.
Arctic Exchange

Arctic Exchange

The Arctic Exchange brings a revolutionary concept in networking and business information delivery – one that is designed to meet the Arctic’s specific business objectives
Week of the Arctic

Week of the Arctic

The fifth annual Week of the Arctic features an exciting combination of Arctic Alaska outreach and learning with Anchorage festivities that focus on innovation, design, community and resilience.
Security and Defense

Security and Defense

The Security and Defense program at the Institute of the North conducts research and educates policymakers on strategic issues relating to the defense that concern decision makers in Alaska and at the state and local level throughout the nation.
Arctic Energy Summit

Arctic Energy Summit

The Institute of the North’s 2015 Arctic Energy Summit built on our legacy efforts to address energy as a fundamental element of the sustainable development of the Arctic as a lasting frontier.
Host Committee

Host Committee

Alaska will be the focus of international attention for the next two years as visiting delegations from around the world participate actively in meetings as the opportunity for Alaskans to shape international discourse about the Arctic has never been greater.
Arctic Public Opinion Poll

Arctic Public Opinion Poll

Governor Walker launched the Alaska Arctic Council Host Committee in 2015 to provide hospitality and education during the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and to highlight Alaska perspectives and prior­ities by showcasing the state’s people and potential.