Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026: Implementation
In December 2021, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee’s Arctic Research Plan 2022–2026. The Arctic Research Plan is a high-level research strategy to address emerging research questions about the Arctic, including the impacts of climate change to the Arctic region and beyond. It presents a research framework with thematic goals and outlines a vision for Federal agencies to address emerging research questions about this vital region. It also provides pathways to strengthen relationships between Federal agencies and Indigenous communities, academia, non-Federal researchers, the state of Alaska, Tribes, nonprofits, the private sector, and international organizations.
In order for to respond more swiftly to emerging and immediate needs, including those caused by climate change, while continuing to support U.S. Arctic policy, the Arctic Research Plan will be achieved through two-year implementation plans.
Building off the work and successes of the Implementation Plan 2022-2024, the Implementation Plan 2025-2026 is currently underway. It includes objectives, which are specific research actions that advance the goals of the Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026. It also includes updated deliverables, which are tangible, measurable, and easily communicated research products that demonstrate progress made toward satisfying the objectives and goals and are made available to decision-makers and partners.
Implementation Approach
’s work under the Implementation Plan 2025-2026 will be carried out by priority area collaboration teams, foundational activity collaboration teams, and communities of practice. These are all open to anyone wishing to advance knowledge about the Arctic. Teams may include members from Federal, State, academic, nonprofit, private sector, Tribal, Indigenous, and international organizations. The priority area and foundational activity collaboration teams direct and coordinate activities to reach the plan goals and ensure coordination and collaboration across agencies and engage non-Federal partners. These multi-disciplinary teams are co-led by at least two Federal program managers and one non-Federal partner and draw on Federal agency and community of practice expertise to achieve their goals. The leadership of specific deliverables will be updated as needed on the Collaborations website.
The Collaborations website is a critical component of and serves as a hub for building connections and facilitating research among Federal government program managers and scientists, the non-Federal research community, Arctic communities, and other collaborators to accelerate the pace of Arctic research and achieve priority area goals. Collaborations is used to facilitate implementation of the Arctic Research Plan and its implementation plans. It supports the work of the collaboration teams and communities of practice, and provides a tool to track progress toward the plan deliverables.
View terms of reference for the Implementation Plan Integration Group, priority area and foundational activity collaboration teams, and communities of practice.
Stewardship
Implementation of the Arctic Research Plan is stewarded by the Principals, Staff Group, collaboration teams, and participating agencies and partners, with support from the Secretariat as funding and resources allow.
Implementation Plan Stewardship Structure
Objectives: Objectives are specific research actions that advance the goals.
Collaboration: Priority area and foundational activity collaboration teams collaborate on and advance objectives and deliverables. In addition to these teams, the communities of practice contribute expertise and knowledge necessary to meet the objectives and deliverables of this implementation plan.
Integration: The Implementation Plan Integration Group will:
- Receive updates from collaboration teams on progress toward meeting implementation plan objectives and deliverables. Input from communities of practice will be received via the collaboration teams.
- Integrate across collaboration teams to facilitate progress toward objectives and deliverables.
- Address challenges and opportunities brought forward by collaboration teams and communities of practice.
- Evaluate, encourage, identify gaps and emerging research topics, and consider adjustments to implementation as necessary.
- Prepare reports on activities under the implementation plan and assist as requested with other reports, such as the report to Congress.
- Evaluate, and make recommendations regarding the development of, subsequent implementation plans.
- Provide implementation updates to the Staff Group as necessary.
Direction: The Principals and Staff Group provide direction on this implementation plan. The Principals provide policy direction, suggest adjustments for future implementation plans, and, when needed, approve official reports. The Staff Group facilitates agency engagement in designing and implementing objectives, addresses issues brought forth by the Implementation Plan Integration Group, approves updates to new objectives and deliverables, and reviews and clears drafts of official reports when needed.
Timeline
The updated implementation plan will be executed from 2025 through 2026.
Implementation Plan Reporting
Progress on objectives and deliverables will be tracked continuously on the Collaborations website. Any organization or individual that is a member of Collaborations may report actions towards a deliverable.
In the fall of 2026, team leads will develop impact statements summarizing the impact of advanced research and how it ties to the goals of the Arctic Research Plan. Impact statements will be used to produce a public report to Congress. This and future reports to Congress will help the public, research, and policy communities understand the progress, obstacles, and pathways toward achievement of goals in implementation plans. They will also demonstrate connections and responsiveness to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission’s Biennial Goals Report.