I this episode of NOW Mike Sfraga discusses why the Arctic increasingly plays a larger role in geopolitical competition, what the COP26 agreement means for the rapidly changing Arctic environment, and Mike's new role with the USARC.
In this edition of Wilson Center NOW, we are joined by Michael Sfraga, Founding Director of the Polar Institute and Director of the Global Risk and Resilience Program. President Biden also recently appointed Dr. Sfraga as Chairman of the United States Arctic Research Commission. We discuss why the Arctic increasingly plays a larger role in geopolitical competition, what the COP26 agreement means for the rapidly changing Arctic environment, and Mike's new role with the USARC.
Since its inception in 2017, the Polar Institute has become a premier forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues, and is known in Washington, DC and elsewhere as the Arctic Public Square. The Institute holistically studies the central policy issues facing these regions—with an emphasis on Arctic governance, climate change, economic development, scientific research, security, and Indigenous communities—and communicates trusted analysis to policymakers and other stakeholders. Read more
The Global Risk and Resilience Program (GRRP) seeks to support the development of inclusive, resilient networks in local communities facing global change. By providing a platform for sharing lessons, mapping knowledge, and linking people and ideas, GRRP and its affiliated programs empower policymakers, practitioners, and community members to participate in the global dialogue on sustainability and resilience. Empowered communities are better able to develop flexible, diverse, and equitable networks of resilience that can improve their health, preserve their natural resources, and build peace between people in a changing world. Read more
