The White House announced Friday that President Obama is coming to Alaska at the end of next month. On Aug. 31 Obama will address a State Department climate change conference in Anchorage. According to the White House, the “GLACIER” conference will convene foreign ministers from Arctic and non-Arctic nations, along with scientists, policymakers and Arctic stakeholders. The aim is to discuss how the Arctic is changing, what it means for the rest of the world and how to address it.
This will be Obama’s first trip to Alaska, other than a refueling stop at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 2009 that included a speech to the troops. Secretary of State John Kerry told Sen. Lisa Murkowski months ago that he planned to accompany the president, but his travel plans were not included in the White House announcement Friday. Anchorage was the only location mentioned in the official statement. White House spokeswoman Hallie Ruvin says more details will follow in the coming weeks.
Rumors are spreading throughout the state that the president plans to visit one or more communities in Western or Southwestern Alaska. Dillingham mayor Alice Ruby said this week Washington staffers told her they were evaluating her city for a possible presidential visit.
