The Arctic Ocean is crossing an environmental threshold from a permanently ice covered to seasonally ice free ocean during summer, with emerging geopolitical interactions of relevance to international peace and stability. In response, the Arctic Ocean Geopolitics Programme was initiated at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, in September 2008 with the following objectives:

1. 1) to enhance cooperation in an international, interdisciplinary and inclusive manner among existing research teams that are focusing on Arctic Ocean geopolitics;

2. 2) to provide parliamentary, governmental, civil-society and industry audiences with objective analyses of environmental security issues and alternative responses in the Arctic Ocean; and

3. 3) to identify lessons from the Arctic Ocean regarding the governance dynamics of nation states and international spaces beyond national jurisdiction.