Arctic Climate Change – Perspectives on International Scientific Cooperation

In the recent past, the Arctic region was frozen both physically and politically. Today, climate change affects the Arctic region at an unprecedented rate and strength. The rise in temperatures in the Arctic region is at least twice the global average. The consequences for nature, wildlife, and societies are many and severe. As the sea ice melts, the region opens. New opportunities for Arctic shipping, mining, tourism, and fisheries unfold. At the same time, challenges such as ecosystem changes, natural hazards, and climatic teleconnections are emerging. The consequences of climate change have become a top political priority in Arctic countries and have attracted attention to the Arctic worldwide. This chapter describes the development of key processes of international Arctic scientific cooperation over the past 20 years. It also addresses changes in thematic focus and how the nature of cooperation has evolved. This chapter attempts to identify areas where cooperation in the Arctic has had global relevance and global impact. Moreover, it discusses how international cooperation in the Arctic can achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and serve as a model for other regional climatic zones. Finally, we suggest the timeliness of another International Polar Year in 2033.