Established in 2011, TAI provides data, analysis, and recommendations to policymakers, researchers, and the interested public. The Arctic Institute is convinced that the developments in the Arctic will have lasting ramifications for international relations, international law, international climate change policy, international trade, and international human rights. The Arctic's strategic location w
ill not only influence government policies, but also affect strategic business decisions and global economic development over the coming decades. The Arctic Institute believes that an interdisciplinary approach to Arctic studies, bringing together researches and experts from a variety of disciplines, is key to fully understanding the ongoing transformation of the region and making progress towards sustainable Arctic development. The Arctic - A Region in Rapid Transformation
Arctic sea ice is melting rapidly, and within the next decade polar warming may transform the High North from an inaccessible frozen desert into a seasonally navigable ocean. The prospects of exploiting the Arctic Ocean’s rich natural resources and gaining access to vital new shipping routes, particularly between Europe and Asia, have led to increased economic and political interest in the region. Rapid environmental change and the Arctic’s emergent economic potential may challenge the geo-strategic balance in a region where institutions, boundaries, rules, and customary norms have yet to be established or remain weak.
“The sea ice is melting much faster than policy can keep up with.”
Dr. Scott G. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 5, 2009.
“Only when the ice breaks will you truly know who is your friend and who is your enemy.”
Inuit Proverb
