Policy Brief

Security of the Arctic

| June 16, 2015

As the U.S. Takes Over the Arctic Council Leadership in 2015

This April, the United States assumed the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. The Belfer Center Environment and Natural Resources Progam is releasing a series of policy briefs on the issues relating to the Arctic. This brief, focusing on security issues, is the first in this series.

Triggered by climate change and the melting of its ice shield, the Arctic's new maritime accessibility has raised serious questions about sovereignty and accountability, while fueling controversies over territorial boundaries. In short, the Arctic's significance is increasing both as an international arena where countries can exert power on each other and as a frontier for environmental challenges - particulary climate change.

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For more information on this publication: Please contact Environment and Natural Resources
For Academic Citation:

Akcayoz De Neve, Pinar, Adam Heal and Henry Lee."Security of the Arctic - As the U.S. Takes Over the Arctic Council Leadership in 2015" Policy Brief, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School, June 2015.

The Authors

Adam Heal

Henry Lee

Henry Lee

  • Director, Environment and Natural Resources Program
  • Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
  • Co-Principal Investigator, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
  • Member of the Board, Belfer Center
  • Faculty Affiliate, Middle East Initiative
Expertise:
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