Energy Security and Climate Resilience: A Scoping Review of Coastal Arctic Communities of Alaska

Arctic coastal communities face persistent energy-security challenges due to dependence on fossil fuels, high energy costs, vulnerable supply chains, and climate-related changes. This paper examines energy security for Arctic coastal communities in the context of climate change, emphasizing the importance of local energy resilience. It examines how diversification of energy resources affects long-term energy security in the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Boroughs of Alaska, USA. A scoping review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to address energy security, climate impacts, and renewable energy in Alaska and the Arctic. These studies were selected from Scopus and ScienceDirect and were published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 230 records were screened, and 54 studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence was thematically charted and synthesized, followed by four community case studies: Utqiaġvik, Kaktovik, Kotzebue, and Deering, based on a literature review and supported by energy model analysis, which reveals that local renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and tidal, reduce fuel dependency and stabilize energy costs amid rising primary energy prices. While climate change poses risks to traditional supply chains, local energy sources can help improve resilience against its impacts and logistical disruptions. The results indicate that the success of the energy transition does not entirely rely on technological adaptation and that it is essential to include local societies to utilize their knowledge and employ adaptive governance and strategic reinvestment of revenues. Marine energy potential showed no significant change over the modeled period, although technological and economic feasibility under Arctic conditions remains uncertain. Overall, diversified and local energy systems are crucial for achieving community resilience and long-term energy security in Arctic coastal communities.