The opening of the Arctic Ocean and the forces of globalization it will unleash pose both pressing challenges and exciting opportunities for the largest and most autonomous of the Arctic regions, the North American Arctic (NAA) — Greenland, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. However, a broad pan-Arctic cooperation is not always the best approach to address these issues; neither are international interests always well aligned with the priorities of Northerners.
In March 2017, CIGI and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted an inaugural summit in Washington, DC, to stimulate discussion about ways to enhance east-to-west collaboration and partnerships among leaders in the NAA — from subnational, Indigenous and local governments — in addressing issues of common concern, including infrastructure planning. This special report delivers key points from the meeting, which focused on finding practical initiatives to meet the particular needs of this distinct subregion and those who live there.
