Air Command and Staff College

Arctic Security: An Adaptive Approach for a Changing Climate Air Command and Staff College

Publisher Marketing: This research examines the growing geopolitical uncertainty wrought by warming Arctic waters in an attempt to articulate a better US national strategy for the Arctic. It explores solutions to mitigate threats to national security while balancing economic rights and environmental responsibilities. This research uses the problem/solution method and assesses potential solutions based on four criteria for success. This strategy must:1) Peacefully resolve territorial sovereignty issues and promote free trade economics.2) Mitigate risks to human and environmental security in the region and around the globe.3) Provide a long-term solution to the sustainable development of the Arctic.4) Include a mechanism for enforcement and monitoring compliance. The fundamental finding of this research is that climate change in the Arctic should be seen as a warning and should underpin future security policy decisions. This necessitates a new paradigm in understanding not only the natural environment, but also the basic conduct of economics, politics, and science in developing an appropriate national security strategy. The thematic conclusions of this paper include the need for an ecologically-based economy, cooperative politics, and collaborative science, all of which are in the interests of national and global security.