Washington, D.C. — President Barack Obama issued an executive order today to boost national efforts in the Arctic and to ready his administration for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council from 2015 to 2017. Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Cathleen Kelly issued the following statement:
With this executive order, President Obama has sent a strong signal that preparing the nation for dramatic climate changes in the Arctic and protecting our national interests in the region are high priorities for the administration. The executive order will fortify Secretary Kerry’s ability to implement U.S. Arctic Council chairmanship priorities, including combating climate change, improving economic and living conditions in Arctic communities, and strengthening stewardship of the Arctic Ocean. The executive order creates a new Arctic Executive Steering Committee that will improve coordination of federal Arctic policy and collaboration with state, local and Alaska Native tribal governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
Related Resources:
Saving the Arctic by Rebecca Lefton and Cathleen Kelly
For more information, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.