About

In the popular imagination, the Arctic represents a vast, unforgiving, and mostly uninhabitable realm. However, this myth belies the surprising variety of landscapes, considerable biodiversity, and remarkable resilience of life in the Far North. Despite the extremes in environment, animals and plants have adapted in remarkable ways and humans have lived close to the land in parts of the Arctic for millennia. And, during modern times the region has provided important commodities used around the world.

Today’s Arctic is arguably the most rapidly changing area on Earth. Year by year the climate there is being visibly transformed, with growing consequences not only for the immediate region but also, because of the Arctic’s critical role in planetary systems, for the entire world. While many of these changes pose daunting challenges for Arctic communities, ecosystems, and economic activity, new opportunities also are emerging for a greater Arctic prominence in the world economy. At the same time, the region has become a vast scientific field station for studying the effects of climate change in service to humanity.

All of this underscores the pressing need for deepening international cooperation and understanding on the complex issues surrounding the Arctic. This website aims to contribute to these goals by drawing on a wide range of sources for news and information that hopefully will surprise you, broaden your perspective, and foster a new appreciation of the Far North.