During his address at the 3rd Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval & Maritime Operations at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, Senator Mark Begich has recommended five major policy initiatives to help Alaska, and the United States in general, acclimatize to what he has deemed the “Second Arctic Century”.

“Arctic sea ice is melting so fast most of it could be gone in 30 years,” Begich said. “The implications of the loss of that sea pack are enormous: for species such as polar bears and walrus that depend on ice for their survival. To the residents of the Arctic who depend on marine mammals to satisfy their nutritional and cultural needs, to entire communities which are being undercut by erosion and thawing permafrost.”

Begich is calling for the ratification of two international treaties that affect the Arctic, increased funding and coordination for Arctic science, more investment in the infrastructure to ensure a stable American presence in the Arctic region, a Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Arctic, and an Arctic ambassador appointed in order to look out for U.S. interests in the Arctic.

One of the treaties Begich would like to see ratify is the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was negotiated in 1982 with the purpose of settling disputes in regards to national rights to offshore waters and their resources.

“By failing to ratify this important treaty, we deny ourselves a seat at the table at a time of great change in the Arctic,” Begich said. “While other nations have filed claims for Arctic continental shelf areas beyond their 200-mile limit, the United States lacks standing to claim such submerged lands and resources, including substantial oil and gas.”

Echoing recent remarks by others, Begich also stressed that the people who live in the Arctic need to not only be taken into consideration, but listened to when it comes to Arctic issues.

“We must make the needed investments to ensure the United States maintains its leadership at the top of our globe. And we must listen to and address the needs of the residents of the Arctic.”