U.S. Creates New Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic

26 August 2022

On Friday, the U.S. Department of State announced plans to appoint the first-ever Arctic Ambassador-at-Large; and expressed a renewed commitment to address climate change in the Arctic and its global consequences. This new Ambassador will build upon the previous U.S. Arctic Coordinator position. All seven other states in the Arctic Council have long had ambassadors for the Arctic (sometimes doubling for Antarctica as well).

Two years ago, more than 190 Arctic and polar scientists from across the U.S. drafted and signed a letter to the incoming Biden Administration requesting the appointment of an Arctic Ambassador. The letter emphasized the need for this position, and re-joining Arctic Council efforts on climate change. The Department of State’s announcement yesterday marks the success of those efforts, together with many others urging the creation of such a position: congratulations, and thank you to everyone who was involved.

As the scientists’ letter noted in December 2020, climate change remains a pressing issue that requires urgent and far-reaching action. As global temperatures rise, cryosphere loss has accelerated in the Arctic – jeopardizing keystone ecosystems, weather stability, national security, and resource availability across the globe. Many of these impacts are irreversible on human timescales. Arctic sea ice continues to disappear at a stunning rate, disrupting global weather patterns and producing more persistent temperature extremes, prolonged stormy periods, and extended droughts that greatly worsen wildfires. Rising sea levels from melting glaciers and polar ice sheets accelerate flooding and storm damage, especially along coastal regions. To reduce emissions and slow the global impact of these accelerating changes, immediate action is required. The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region can help advance U.S. policy in the Arctic, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic nations as well as Indigenous groups, and work closely with domestic stakeholders.

The Arctic Ambassador-at-Large position will be filled once a nomination is sent to, and duly confirmed by the Senate; the State Department announcement did not note an appointment at this time.

https://www.state.gov/establishing-an-ambassador-at-large-for-the-arctic-region/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18VzzvrZK2gjc_qOZFUSxpo252W0RPkjW/view