Big Picture of Arctic Science

An overview of international Arctic organizations,

their role in circum-Arctic science and science

policy, and some recent developments

David Hik University of Alberta & International Arctic Science Committee

Summer School in Arctic Atmospheric Science – July 2011

Overview

• International Arctic organizations(a) Governmental (b) Non-governmental (c) Inbetween

• Global organizations with Arctic component

• National and bi-lateral Arctic organizations with international focus

• International programs and initiatives

• The Canadian Scene

This summary includes key organizations, programs and initiatives:

• Focus on international, circum-Arctic coordination• Including some Canadian activities• Not individual research projects

International Polar Science Organizations

IASC SCAR

Arctic Council Antarctic Treaty

ICSUUNEP

UNESCO

WMO WWF

FARO COMNAP

CliC

IPA

EPB

AOSB

IASSA

NRF

UArctic

etc.

Arctic Antarctic

Bipolar

Global

CCAMLRACAP

International Arctic organizations

(a) Governmental

Working Groups

• Arctic Contaminants Action Program (ACAP)

• The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)

• Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

• Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR)

• Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)

• The Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG)

Permanent Participants

• Aleut International Association (AIA)

• Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC)

• Gwich'in Council International (GCI)

• Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC)

• Saami Council

• Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON)

• Indigenous Peoples Secretariat (IPS)

Arctic Council

www.arctic-council.org

Member Countries

International Arctic organizations

Arctic Council

Observer States

• China

• France

• Germany

• Italy

• Poland

• Spain

• The Netherlands

• United Kingdom

• EU

• South Korea

• Japan

Observer Organizations• IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Societies

• WWF - Worldwide Fund for Nature

• Arctic Circumpolar Route

• AWRH – Association of World Reindeer Herders

• CCU - Circumpolar Conservation Union

• IASC - International Arctic Science Committee

• IASSA – International Arctic Social Sciences Association

• IUCH - International Union for Circumpolar Health

• IUCN – The World Conservation Union

• IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

• NAMMCO - North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission

• NCM - Nordic Council of Ministers

• NEFCO – Nordic Environment Finance Corporation

• Northern Forum

• SCPAR – Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region

• UArctic – University of the Arctic

• UNDP – United Nations Development Programme

• UNEP-GRID/Arendal

International Arctic organizations

(a) Governmental

Conference of the Parliamentarians of the Arctic Regionwww.arcticparl.org

Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministerswww.norden.org

Northern Forum (NF)www.northernforum.org

International Arctic organizations

(b) Non-governmental

Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)www.apecs.is

European Polar Board (EPB)http://www.esf.org/research-areas/polar-sciences.html

International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS)www.cryosphericsciences.org

International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)www.iasc.info• International Science Initiative in the Russian Arctic (ISIRA)

Pacific Arctic Group (PAG)pag.arcticportal.org

The International Arctic

Science Committee (IASC)

is a non-governmental,

international scientific

organization established to

encourage, facilitate and

promote leading-edge

multi-disciplinary research

to foster a greater scientific

understanding of the arctic

region and its role in the

Earth system.

www.iasc.info

International Arctic organizations

(b) Non-governmental (continued)

International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)www.iassa.org

International Permafrost Association (IPA)www.ipa-permafrost.org

International Arctic organizations

(c) Inbetween

Forum of Arctic Research Operators (FARO)www.faro-arctic.org

Northern Research Forum (NRF)www.nrf.is

University of the Arctic (UArctic)www.uarctic.org

Global organizations with Arctic component

International Council for Science (ICSU)www.icsu.org

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)www.wmo.org

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)www.unesco.org

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)www.unep.org

Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF)www.wwf.org

+ several daughters…

• Climate and Cryosphere (CliC)co-sponsored by the World Climate Research Program (WCRP), IASC and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)

National and bi-lateral Arctic organizations with international focus

Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) – USAwww.arcus.org

International Arctic Research Center (IARC) – US/Japanwww.iarc.uaf.edu

Otto Schmidt Laboratory (OSL) – Russian/Germanwww.otto.nw.ru

Fram Climate Research Laboratory (FAL) – Russian/Norwegianwww.fram.nw.ru

Arctic Institute of North America – Canada/USAwww.arctic.ucalgary.ca

Arctic Centre – Finlandwww.arcticcentre.org

and others…

Recent international programs, initiatives and assessments (not a complete list)

International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008www.ipy.org

2nd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP II)aosb.arcticportal.org/icarp_ii/

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)www.amap.no/acia

Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR)www.svs.is/ahdr

Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)www.assw2011.org

SWIPA – Snow, Water, Ice, Permafrost in the Arcticwww.amap.no/swipa/

State of the Arctic Coastwww.arcticcoasts.org/

International Polar Year

• IPY 2007-2008 was an intense, internationally coordinated campaign of research intended to initiate a new era in polar science

2nd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning

• Prepared Arctic research plans to guide

international co-operation over the next

10-15 years

• Brought together senior and young

scholars, policy experts, Arctic

indigenous and other residents, science

and land managers as well as funding

agencies

• Conference took place in Copenhagen,

Denmark, 10-12 November 2005

• Comprehensive pre-conference process

engaged over 140 scientists in the

preparation of 12 science plans

Planning team looking at holding ICARP III in 2015

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)An international project of the Arctic Council (Working Groups AMAP and CAFF) and IASC to evaluate and synthesize knowledge on Arctic climate variability, climate change, and their impacts. Published 2005.

ACIA Reports• Scientific Report (1000 pages)• Synthesis Report (140 pages)• Policy Report

www.amap.no/acia

Review of existing knowledge regarding

each topic or theme

Synthesis in search of overarching

patterns and important insights

Identification of gaps in knowledge

requiring attention in the future

Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR)

A scientific assessment (released 2004) rather than a report on the findings of new research.

www.svs.is/AHDR

The Arctic Human Development Report was a project of the Arctic Council.

Arctic Change

Glaciers, Ice Caps and Greenland Ice Sheet are declining faster since 2000, contributing 40 % to global sea level rise

Ice-free Arctic Ocean in summer by 2040-2050

Permafrost temperature have risen by up to 2°C, southern limit is moving northward

Global Impact(direct or feedback)

Sea level rise: 0.9-1.6 mby 2100

Increased adsorption of sun´s energy and possible changes in large-scale ocean currents

Potential for additional GHG emission, in particular CH4

Arctic Change - Global Impact

www.arcticcoasts.org

The Arctic Coast is

a key interface in the Arctic environment,

a complex of distinctive processes and hazards shaped by the cold,

a rich band of biodiversity, critical habitat, and high productivity,

a locus of human activity,

among the most dynamic components of the circumpolar landscape.

The goal of this report is to provide a comprehensive picture of the status and current and anticipated changes in the most sensitive Arctic coastal areas. The

assessment takes a social-ecological approach that explores the implications of change for the interaction of humans with

nature.

www.arcticcoasts.org

Key Findings in brief

Less extensive sea ice, warmer sea-surface and ground temperatures have the potential to increase erosion (typically in the 1-2 m/a range, but vary up to 10-30 m/a in some locations)

Health of Arctic coastal and marine ecosystems is increasingly under pressure, putting at risk ecosystem goods and services

Many Arctic coastal communities are experiencing vulnerabilities with impacts on travel (on ice or water), subsistence hunting, cultural resources and housing and infrastructure

The report, published online April 2011, is the outcome of a collaborative effort and was prepared by an international writing team, including 15 Lead Authors and 27

Contributing Authors.

Arctic Science Summit Week

The purpose of the summit is to provide opportunities for co-ordination, collaboration and co-operation in all areas of Arctic science, and to combine science and management meetings to save on travel and time.

ASSW 2011

Held on 29 March – 1 April 2011 in Seoul, Korea. The theme of the 2nd IASC Science Symposium was: “The Arctic: The New Frontier for Global Science“.

ASSW 2013 – Krakow, Poland

ASSW 2012 – Montreal, Canada

ASSW 2011 – Seoul, South Korea

ASSW 2010 – Nuuk/Copenhagen

ASSW 2009 – Bergen, Norway

ASSW 2008 – Syktyvkar, Russia

ASSW 2007 - Dartmouth College, USA

ASSW 2006 - Potsdam, Germany

ASSW 2005: Kunming, China

ASSW 2004: Reykjavik, Iceland

ASSW 2003: Kiruna, Sweden

ASSW 2002: Groningen, Netherlands

ASSW 2001: Iqaluit, Canada

ASSW 2000: Cambridge, UK

ASSW 1999: Tromso, Norway

ASSW Partners:

International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC) /Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)

www.arcticchange.org

Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON)www.arcticobserving.org

International programs and initiatives

International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC)

• Long-term, multidisciplinary program to

study the effects of environmental changes

on the circumpolar Arctic system and the

globe

• Main objective is to observe and understand

the characteristics of the entire Arctic

System and its responses to change in order

to develop the best adaptation and

mitigation strategies

www.arcticchange.org

Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON)

SAON is a process to support and

strengthen the development of multinational engagement for sustained and coordinated pan-Arctic observing and data sharing systems that serve societal needs, particularly related to

environmental, health, social, economic and cultural issues.

SAON was convened by the Arctic Council following Ministerial meetings in 2006, 2009 and 2011.

SAON Steering Group co-chaired by AC and IASC.

Sustained observational needs

Sustainable observing systems are essential, that allow incorporating

in situ and satellite observations from operational and research

networks and platforms.

Couple modelling with observational data to provide (re)analyses

products crucial for evaluating and improving climate (earth system)

models used in predictions.

www.arcticobserving.org

• The Arctic is a significant gap in the Global Ocean Observing System.

• An Arctic Ocean observing system must be created…

…and sustained.

For example: the Global Ocean

Observing System in the Arctic

www.polarcommons.org

Polar Information Commons

Promote free and unrestricted access for data and information regarding the polar regions

Become a portal to data repositories for polar scientific data and information

• Subgroup of SAON Steering Groupcollected information on existing CBM and local/traditional knowledge activities;

• Map-based registry developed by ELOKA for SAON inventory and website;

• Collaboration with the Inuit Circumpolar Council and other indigenous peoples organizations.

Community-based monitoring

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

IPY(Joint Committee

WMO, ICSU)

Assessm

en

ts: A

CIA

, A

HD

R

AC

, IA

SC

AC

ICARP II ICARP II

ISAC/SEARCH ISAC/SEARCH

Ongoing research

= ASSW (IASC, AOSB, EPB, PAG, FARO, others)

IPY planning

Planning IPY SnapshotLong-term

Implementation

IASC and partners IASC and partners

IASC, AOSB

WMO, ICSU

Assessm

ents

& P

rogra

ms?

AC, IASCACIA follow-up

AC, IASCACIA follow-up

IPY legacy

e.g. SAON, PIC

The Big Picture

ICSU Grand Challenges for Earth System Science for Global Sustainability

The ICSU Grand Challenges:

• improve the usefulness of forecasts of future environmental conditions and their consequences for people (forecasting);

• develop the observation systems needed to manage global and regional environmental change (observations);

• determine how to anticipate, avoid and cope with dangerous global environmental change (thresholds) are most relevant today in the context of the dramatic changes that the Polar Regions are experiencing in advance of global changes in many cases;

• new technological, policy, and social responses will need to be developed (innovation) to tackle polar research urgencies.

Research urgencies in the Polar Regions and their links to the ICSU Grand Challenges in Global Sustainability

A two day symposium, Siena (Italy) in the context of the ICSU General Assembly 2011 and the ICSU Earth System visioning process

Siena, Italy23-24 September 2011

Sponsored by the ICSU organisations SCAR, IASC and IACSSupported by PNRA/MIUR, CNRHosted by the University of Siena

''.....Over the next 10 years the global scientific community must take on the challenge of delivering to society the knowledge and supporting information necessary to assess the risks humanity is facing from global environmental change, and to understand how society can effectively mitigate dangerous changes and cope with the change that we cannot manage....''

An International Polar Decade?

Scientific efforts under the auspices of an IPD

must be aligned to meeting broad societal

needs such as those identified by WMO and the

ICSU Grand Challenges for Earth System

Science for Global Sustainability, and be

anchored on delivering better, more reliable

scientific information for risk management and

policy-making and other societal relevant

activities in both Polar Regions.

IPD would begin beyond 2015 to permit existing

programs and available resources to align to a

set of dedicated decadal scale polar initiatives.

DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNDERPIN ALL FOUR PILLARS

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

Exercising our Arctic sovereignty as

international interest in the region increases.

Sovereignty

Economic and Social Development Environmental Protection

Adapting to climate change challenges and

ensuring sensitive Arctic ecosystems are protected for future generations.

Governance

Providing Northerners with more control over

their economic and political destiny.

Encouraging social and economic development

and regulatory improvements that

benefit Northerners.

Canada’s Northern Strategy

Canada and its Northern Strategy

A Network of Centres of Excellence for the Integrated Natural/Human Health/Social Study of the Changing

Coastal Canadian Arctic

The future? proposed structure of the National Polar Research Platform

Ownership and Governance

Arctic

• ’Owned’ by rim nations

• Governance by rim nations

• Coordination via Arctic Council

• 4 Million people

Antarctic

• Owned by no country (some claimant states, but claims in

abeyance)

• Governance by Antarctic Treaty

• Coordination via Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting

• Uninhabited