From vision to action: New NOAA strategic framework sets path for more resilient Arctic
A dire time for the Arctic
The strategy arrives during a critical transition point for the Arctic, which is warming at approximately three times the global average. In 2024, the Arctic tundra became a net source of carbon dioxide emissions for the first time on record. This results in impacts that have a cascading effect on ecosystems, economies, weather and climate patterns worldwide. That is why NOAA has initiated an effort to align its science, service and stewardship mission to address Arctic challenges, while strengthening community resilience and local economies.
“Businesses and communities — both domestically and internationally — are becoming increasingly invested in the Arctic, from understanding the region’s impact on global weather to pursuing sustainable economic development and enhancing national security,” said NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, Kelly Kryc, Ph.D., who also serves as NOAA’s Senior Arctic Policy Lead.
3 pillars: Support, science and stewardship
The strategy organizes NOAA’s efforts into three pillars and seven priority goals to realize the vision of equitable and resilient communities, ecosystems and economies. These include:
- Advancing environmental science, which encompasses goals to strengthen foundational science, monitor and forecast sea ice and provide public and private sector decisionmakers with improved understanding of climate and ecosystem changes.
- Promoting collaborative stewardship to enhance our engagements with international, national, regional and local partners, including those we work with regarding coastal and marine ecosystem stewardship.
- Supporting resilient communities centered on equity and environmental justice. This effort includes working alongside Indigenous and rural communities on efforts to improve infrastructure, emergency preparedness and adaptation planning to advance healthy ecosystems and equitable growth.
“Through NOAA’s Arctic Vision and Strategy, we are aligning our agency’s actions and engagements to keep pace with the region’s rapid change and national interests,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “We stand ready with our partners, including Indigenous and local communities, to provide the science and research that societies need to make important decisions to achieve resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges and opportunities.”
The full strategy is available online at arctic.noaa.gov. Learn more about NOAA’s work in the Arctic.
