Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 17, Issue 01 | September 30, 2020

Policy Memo: ​RIAC: Responsible and Informed Arctic Commercialization, A Way Forward

Anna M. Zolyniak

Georgetown University, Walsh School of School of Foreign Service, 3700 O Street NW, Washington, D.C.
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG170121
Keywords: Arctic; sustainable commercialization; environmental change; regulations; resource extraction; domain awareness​
Executive Summary: In 2019, the Arctic experienced its second warmest year on record, continuing a six-year trend of record-breaking Arctic surface temperatures (Lindsey 2019). Such unprecedented observations have become the new normal in the Arctic and provide new insights into the implications of global climate change. A warming Arctic, however, also presents new opportunities for Arctic commercial development. Such development is in fact quickly evolving from a mere possibility to an on-the-ground reality. Despite the speed of and increasing prospect of Arctic commercialization, however, there has been little to no movement on the part of the United States to enact policies and regulations accounting for it.
 
Recognizing this gap in U.S. policy, the main objective of this paper is to articulate a possible path towards sustainable Arctic commercialization—one that recognizes and addresses current realities and future potential challenges. To this end, this paper synthesizes a two-pronged policy proposal—referred to as Responsible and Informed Arctic Commercialization (RIAC). RIAC targets the paucity of U.S. Arctic knowledge and regulatory capacity with a clearly articulated framework for implementation. The first prong of the policy addresses the quality of U.S. Arctic domain awareness. The second prong assesses the status of relevant sections of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations with respect to the unique conditions of the Arctic. The actions encompassed by RIAC’s two-pronged structure offer a clear path for the United States to rectify the weaknesses in its current Arctic policy and make sustainable and safe Arctic commercial development possible.

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Anna Zolyniak is a student at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University studying International Politics and concentrating in International Law. Her primary academic interests are environmental and resource law and policy and the jurisprudence of national and international security. Anna has conducted policy research in the U.S. Arctic and is currently researching international bulk water trade law. Anna also spent time studying abroad in Berlin, Germany and was nominated to serve as a delegate from Georgetown University to the 2020 Worldwide U7+ Student Forum.
 
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Professor Jeremy Mathis for introducing me to the world of the Arctic, for opening my eyes to the changes that are happening there, and for assisting me in writing and reviewing the original draft of this paper.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

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