Arctic Observing Summit urges coordinated system

March 24, 2016

The Arctic community must pull together to create an observing system that will support decision-making in a rapidly changing environment, according to a conference statement issued as a result of the Third Biennial Arctic Observing Summit.

The statement follows four days of meetings at the University of Alaska Fairbanks last week. More than 450 delegates from 30 countries met to identify a way to create an internationally supported Arctic observing system that meets the urgent information needs of those who are affected by and responding to rapid Arctic change from the local to the global level. The delegates included scientists; representatives from government, business and nonprofit organizations; and indigenous leaders from throughout the Arctic.

“Arctic change is a consequence of global change, with global repercussions, and addressing it is a global responsibility,” the statement concludes. “It is time to move forward with full intent and full engagement and act on these recommendations of summit participants.”

Recommendations and plans for action from the Arctic Observing Summit 2016 conference statement include:

Developing international guidelines for research in the Arctic, including the involvement of indigenous peoples and private-sector entities.

Building the business case for a comprehensive Arctic observing system by identifying economic benefits and costs avoided, and taking that case to the highest levels of government.

Creating opportunities for stakeholder engagement and the resolution of jurisdictional, regulatory and policy hindrances to active participation.

Coordinating the implementation of an Arctic observing system that draws on existing Arctic and global initiatives and secure resources for sustained operation.

Creating a strategy for international, sustained funding to overcome existing hurdles for globally coordinated Arctic research.

Ensuring that the observations can be maintained consistently over the long term.

Developing a globally connected open data and information system that provides value to Arctic and global communities.

A full report from last week’s summit, with detailed actions plans and summaries of contributions from the summit participants, is expected to be available later this spring.

The Arctic Observing Summit is an international, biennial forum of scientists, agencies, indigenous peoples’ organizations, Arctic community members and the private sector. Its purpose is to coordinate the design, development and implementation of a comprehensive and sustained Arctic observing system at the international level.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Hajo Eicken, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 907-474-7280, heicken@alaska.edu; Maribeth Murray, University of Calgary, 403-220-7516, murraym@ucalgary.ca; Peter Schlosser, Columbia University, schlosser@ldeo.columbia.edu; Eva Kruemmel, Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada, EKruemmel@inuitcircumpolar.com

ON THE WEB: Find the full conference statement at http://www.arcticobservingsummit.org/aos-2016-conference-statement-0.