Environmental security/ To serve as stewards for valuable and vulnerable ecosystems

President Obama issued an executive order Jan. 21 to improve coordination around federal policy and activities in the Arctic region, especially as it relates to the effects from climate change.

Specifically, the order establishes an Arctic Executive Steering Committee to not only enhance coordination among federal agencies, but also boost collaboration with state, local and tribal governments, universities, research institutions and other stakeholders.

The new Arctic Executive Steering Committee will be chaired by Office of Science and Technology Policy, or OSTP, director John P. Holdren. Other members will include the Council on Environmental Quality, the Domestic Policy Council, the National Security Council, and top-level officials from several more departments and agencies.

The move comes as United States assumes control of the eight-nation Arctic Council, which addresses issues facing those nations and the indigenous people who live there.

Obama executive order seeks to boost Arctic policy coordination, cut greenhouse gas emissions