Wake up, Henry Hudson: Thanks to global warming, the Northwest Passage will soon be open for business.

As the North Pole’s ice cap gives way to global warming, countries bordering the formerly inaccessible Arctic are now vying to claim its untapped resources.

Captain Melissa M. Bert, USCG saysnow is the time for the Obama administration to advance a comprehensive Arctic strategy that addresses both governance and acquisition requirements, or it risks further harm to the economic and national security of the United States.

Scott Borgerson visually explores the changing Arctic using an interactive map.

Icelandic president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson discusses the international economic, environmental, and security implications of a changing Arctic region.

Scott Borgerson and Paula Dobriansky discuss the economic, environmental, and security implications of a changing Arctic region and its significance for the United States.

As human activity intensifies in the Arctic, U.S. interests would be best represented by a reinforced Coast Guard, exercising the role it carries out in other coastal areas, writes CFR Military Fellow Peter Troedsson.

Many observers have noted that the loss of Arctic ice is already leading to stepped-up human activity in the high north, particularly in the form of increasing commercial traffic and development. This trend has brought forth a range of issues on the geopolitical front, from environmental protection to search-and-rescue capabilities to the delineation of national boundaries—which will determine access to natural resources. These concerns are being addressed cooperatively in both bilateral and multilateral fashion, especially under the aegis of the Arctic Council and the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Arctic region is undergoing unprecedented and disruptive change. Its climate is changing more rapidly than anywhere else on earth. Rising temperatures are causing a retreat of sea ice and changes to seasonal length, weather patterns and ecosystems. These changes have prompted a reassessment of economic and development potential in the Arctic and are giving rise to a set of far-reaching political developments.

John Vinocur of The New York Times examines news developments in the Arctic and explores Russia's goal of building a "comprehensive presence" in the area.

Paula J. Dobriansky argues that the continuing success of the Antarctic Treaty at its 50th anniversary offers policymakers a powerful diplomatic template on which to combat pressing security, economic, and environmental challenges in the region.

The Arctic Council assesses the impact climate change is having on the Arctic environment, human health, and social, cultural and economic systems. The Assessment encourages Member States to take effective measures through enhancing the access of Arctic residents to information and decision makers.

A report prepared by CSIS on the foreign policy and national security implications of global climate change.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports on the rapid rates of warming in recent years in the sub-regions of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Ice, snow and climate change are closely linked. The Global Outlook for Ice and Snow investigates those connections, the current situation of ice and snow and the global significance of changes, now and in the years to come.

NOAA has published a report on the decline in Arctic snow and ice coverage.

This report by World Wildlife Fund catalogues the damaging effects of climate change on glaciers and offers possible solutions.

Frank G. Klotz observes that the United States and Russia have been at loggerheads lately. Thus, a recent bit of bilateral cooperation in Antarctica comes as welcome news.

Frank G. Klotz says the United States needs to rebuild its icebreaking capability in Antarctica, otherwise protecting U.S. interests—in both polar regions—will become even more challenging.