American Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg has announced that the United Sates will be seeking cooperation from Russia and the other Arctic countries as global warming continues to melt the Arctic Sea.  Steinberg told Reuters that he hoped regional disputes over the Arctic would be resolved by the development of a new cooperation strategy.  As the ice continues to melt polar countries are fighting over sea and shipping rights. more »

We’ve all heard that in the future certain parts of the world will be under water once again as global warming worsens, forcing whole communities to relocate.  While this may seem like something that will only happen in the distant future, it has become a reality for the 340 people who called Newtok, Alaska home.  more »

At next week’s meeting of the Arctic Council, the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment will be released, detailing the study’s findings. The Arctic council, which is comprised of representatives from the Arctic nations, will be meeting in Tromso, Norway to discus the Arctic situation. more »

It seems that a man who was working on a scientific research project in Greenland performed a little side project of his own: could he survive three days lost in the Arctic?  Well, fortunately for him, by using survival skills he can.  And he did.  more »

A fossil discovered in the Canadian Arctic has been dated back at least 20 million years.  It appears to be a “walking seal” that has not only webbed feet, but also four legs.  Dubbed Puijila darwini, this new species may very well the missing link in understanding the evolution of pinnipeds, which includes today’s seals, walruses and sea lions. more »

In a policy paper that will be presented this week end to the Aspen Commission on Arctic Climate Change, scientists are warning that there is only a short window of opportunity for the international community to work together to establish an Arctic that has trans-governmental authority before individual countries’ self interest really take precedence as the desire for commercial activity in the area increase as the Arctic ice decreases. more »

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is reporting an increase in two arctic caribou herds.  The Teshekpuk herd, which had 45,000 caribou in 2002, currently has more than 64,000 animals. Meanwhile, the Central Arctic herd (CAH) has more than doubled, with their numbers at around 67,000 today, while back in 2002 the herd stood at approximately 32,000 head. The new counts were gathered from a recent photocensuses of both herds. more »

In a decision on Friday, a federal appeals court canceled a program that was to discover new oil reserves in the Arctic, after ruling that the former Bush administration did not adequately look into the full environmental impact that expansion of oil and gas drilling off of the Alaska coast would have on the area. more »