The environmental state-change in the Arctic Ocean from a permanent ice-cap to a seasonally ice-free sea underscores the potential for political, economic, and cultural instabilities in the High North. These security matters are related to significant opportunities for living and mineral resource exploitation as well as challenges for marine ecosystem protection and spatial planning with unresolved territorial issues and a new trade route emerging that will influence the global balance of power. These risks will be addressed in an international, interdisciplinary, and inclusive manner with views shared from scientific, shipping, energy, indigenous, diplomatic, and military perspectives. This session also will explore the balance between national interests and common interests within the law-of-the-sea framework, involving sovereign jurisdictions as well as international spaces, especially the high seas surrounding the North Pole. This session will reflect further on the “common arctic issues” of sustainable development and environmental protection with consideration of peace as an explicit new common interest among the Arctic coastal states, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders in this globally relevant region. This interdisciplinary session will involve a broad range of institutions that are representative of the diversity of science and society with a long-term view of promoting cooperation and preventing conflict in the Arctic Ocean for the lasting benefit of all.