A joint session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council in Baltimore, Maryland (April 6-17, 2009) has focused attention on changes at both ends of the Earth. The meetings come at the official conclusion of the International Polar Year and have included high-level officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Mrs. Clinton discussed the possible economic and environmental impacts of an ice-free Arctic and a new resolution to curb environmental impact and improve safety of Antarctic tourists. The meeting’s theme, Fifty Years of Peace and Science, provides an opportunity for reflection on the past fifty years of the Antarctic Treaty and for exploration of issues facing the polar regions in the future.