A thought-provoking mix of Alaska, U.S. and international luminaries will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with Alaskans at the second annual Arctic Imperative Summit. This intimate gathering of industry, investment, government and Arctic community leaders convenes August 24-27, 2012, in Anchorage and Girdwood, Alaska.
The Summit aims to sharpen the world's focus on the Arctic by providing a cross-disciplinary forum to discuss history that hasn't been written yet. Presenting a broad selection of topics and challenges, the Summit is a unique opportunity for Alaskans to engage with Arctic world leaders in their home state and discuss Arctic development. Although such development is inevitable, there is an opportunity to shape it responsibly. Through conversation and engagement with the world's Arctic leaders, Alaskans will be in a stronger position to determine how future development decisions will be made.
Topics for discussion at this year's Summit include investment opportunities; Arctic security needs; the perspectives of local Arctic residents; the rapid growth of shipping traffic; responsible resource management; evolving policy issues, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST); case studies, such as the recent Renda fuel delivery through sea ice to Nome; and much more. The Summit schedule can be found, here. A detailed agenda will be released prior to the event.
The Summit will be broadcast live online, and Summit speeches will be archived on the summit's Vimeo page.
Building on the event's past success in attracting world-class speakers, this year's Summit will feature international leaders concerned with Arctic policy, such as James A. Baker III, Former U.S. Secretary of State; U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, of Alaska; Ed Crooks, U.S. industry and energy editor, Financial Times; President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grímsson; David J. Hayes, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior; Chris Matthews, Host, "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and "The Chris Matthews Show"; and Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell. A comprehensive list of speakers, including confirmed Alaskan leaders, is updated daily and can be found, here.
To learn how to attend in person as a member of the public or media, or how to become involved as an organization, click here.
The Arctic Imperative is an independent, nonpartisan organization founded by Alice Rogoff, publisher of AlaskaDispatch.com. The mission of the Arctic Imerative Summit is to sharpen the world's focus on the policy and investment needs of the Arctic and provide a platform for local, state, national and international leaders to make measured, long-term Arctic development decisions.