The Arctic is warming at much faster rates than the global average, with pronounced effects on sea ice, landscapes, northern infrastructure, and ecosystems. This amplified warming will continue over this century, resulting in severe environmental challenges for not only Arctic communities, but also for human society throughout the world. This essay updates and revisits the conclusions of an earlier review on Arctic climate change, with new environmental observations, projections and strategies, and in light of changing geopolitical and security concerns across the region. Global and local policy implications are considered across five themes: adaptation, conservation, mitigation, knowledge exchange, and security issues. Looking before-through-after the current period of conflict, this analysis concludes by identifying common interests and precedents to confront the pressing challenges of Arctic climate change.