This week nearly 1200 international scientists and researchers, Indigenous Knowledge holders, and community members from across the Arctic and beyond gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV). This Summit brought together representatives of Arctic Indigenous Peoples in equal and respectful partnership with scientists, researchers, educators, and representatives from many organizations to identify future international Arctic research priorities for the coming decade.
The Summit was a call to action. The Arctic is changing faster than anywhere else on Earth, fundamentally driven by human-caused climate change. The consequences of this transformation—melting ice, shifting ecosystems, thawing permafrost—not only affect the Peoples of the Arctic, but also extend far beyond, affecting global climate, weather patterns, biodiversity, and communities worldwide. Understanding, mitigating, and adapting to these dramatic environmental changes to benefit the Peoples of the Arctic, its environment, and the world are critically important tasks.
The ICARP IV Summit not only elevated attention toward critical research priorities and needs; it was also an opportunity to reimagine and create new commitments to how we do Arctic research to serve society. The ICARP IV process rests on a foundation of the recognition of and respect for Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and leadership in research, the value of diverse ways of knowing, and the need to invest in meaningful and equitable research collaborations. Arctic research must collectively advance understanding across science disciplines and Indigenous Knowledge systems, the health and wellbeing of all Arctic Peoples, ecosystem stewardship, international and cross-cultural partnerships, and shared commitments to address the climate and environment crisis. Despite real progress, comprehensive observation and data systems, approaches for usable research to inform decision making, equitable and ethical ways of working together require enhanced and innovative international action to achieve success.
Participants at the Summit came together in a spirit of open and international partnership to share their ideas, to build teams, and showcase practical examples of how to make a step-change in this work. There has never been a greater need for large-scale international cooperation to tackle the most significant Arctic research questions and to produce practical results. Advancing our understanding of and responses to the transformative changes taking place across the Arctic will require increased, coordinated, and sustained research funding commitments from across all nations interested in the Arctic region, ensuring equitable access to funding for researchers, Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and all organizations that support critical research logistics and operations.
The final results from this multi-year ICARP IV process, which will be available in early 2026, will identify the most pressing Arctic research priorities for the next decade and establish a roadmap for action and how we will work together in the lead up to the 5th International Polar Year in 2032-33. The challenges ahead demand bold, sustained, collaborative, and visionary research.
To get involved and find out more about ICARP IV visit: https://icarp.iasc.info/.
Issued on behalf of:
- ICARP IV International Steering Committee
- ICARP IV Summit Local Organizing Committee
Media Contacts:
- Federica Scarpa, Communications Manager, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC),
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Lauren Lipuma, Communications Office, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder,
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