Overcoming Remoteness: Arctic Innovation in Transportation, Energy and Connectivity

What makes the North American Arctic unique? In many ways, it is the remoteness and sparsity of the region that gives it its character: cultural integrity has been preserved, much of the land remains untouched, and political self-determination has been maintained. But its remoteness also gives rise to extreme economic challenges. Communities that are remote and off-grid face affordability and accessibility challenges that those in southern and urban areas do not. In particular, transportation, energy and connectivity are more difficult, and therefore more expensive, in the Arctic, with dramatic consequences for development. This affects not only the social well-being of Arctic residents, many of whom struggle with high cost food and housing, and limited access to health services, education and employment. It also affects the competitiveness of economic and resource development, and the ability to exercise the defense and security of the region.  

There are no panaceas. But together, there are three, well-advanced, technologies that could dramatically improve the social, economic and security prospects of the North American Arctic in a climate conscious manner: airships, to address transportation needs; small modular reactors, to address energy needs; and fiber networks, to address communications needs. There is urgency: in order to improve northern quality of life, develop critical minerals needed for the energy transition, and enhance continental defense, the challenges of the Arctic must be overcome now, not in 2050.  

Please join the Wilson Center for a discussion about the nature of remoteness, the opportunities and barriers to various solutions in the Arctic, and assess various public and private financing mechanisms to bring them to life.