Arctic Initiative 2023-2024 Year in Review

Dear colleagues, 

We believe that the Arctic is a special place that requires greater attention in national and international policymaking, and if you are reading this, chances are that you are as passionate about the top of the world as we are. With this in mind, we are pleased to share the highlights from another busy year at the Arctic Initiative. 

As part of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, the Initiative is dedicated to policyrelevant research. For us, this means tapping into the diverse academic expertise of our faculty, fellows, and associates and combining this with pragmatic, solutions-oriented activities that contribute real-world impact. These include: 

• Fostering resilient Arctic communities; 
• Addressing the regional and global impacts of permafrost thaw; 
• Advancing sustainable ocean management; 
• Strengthening regional governance in a changing geopolitical environment; and 
• Helping to train the next generation of Arctic Leaders. 

As the following pages will attest, our team has been busy convening discussions with key decisionmakers, deepening our understanding of critical issues, lifting up new and emerging leaders, and supporting thoughtful and informed policies. We are incredibly proud of all the people affiliated with this program and the passion and enthusiasm that they bring to this work. 

Of course, we recognize that we can only be successful in our efforts if we are working closely with a diverse range of partners. In 2023-2024, we collaborated with over 28 organizations around the world, with particular priority placed on working with institutions based in the Arctic and those that represent Arctic Indigenous Peoples. 

The work that we have done in the past year would not have been possible without these partnerships, and we want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank these amazing people and organizations. Nor would our work have been possible without the support of our sponsors, to whom we are deeply grateful.

John Holdren, 
Co-Chair

Henry Lee 
Co-Chair

Jennifer Spence 
Director