KNOWLEDGE FOR A SUSTAINABLE ARCTIC 3RD ARCTIC SCIENCE MINISTERIAL REPORT 08–09 May 2021 | Tokyo, Japan 1 Photo Credits: Nathaniel Wilder (p. 2, 39, 44, 150, 153, 155), Dimitris Kiriakakis (p. 4), Jason Briner (p. 5), Jon Flobrant (p. 8, 144), Maria Vojtovicova (p. 11, 20, 160), Emma Waleij (p. 13), Joao Monteiro (p. 15), Annie Spratt (p. 17-18, 22, 36, 126, 128, 140), Hans Jurgen Mager (p. 24), Einar H Reynis (p. 26), Nikola Johnny Mirkovic (p. 28), Melanie Karrer (p. 32), Filip Gielda (p. 35), Kristina Delp (p. 41), Sebastian Bjune (p. 42), Mattias Helge (p. 43), Hari Nandakumar (p. 47), Ylona Maria Rybka (p. 125), Kristaps Grundsteins (p. 131), Torbjorn Sandbakk (p. 132), Vidar Nordli Mathisen (p. 134), Tobias Tullius (p. 136), Sami Takarautio (p. 138), Isaac Demeester (p. 146), Hakan Tas (p. 148), John O Nolan (p. 149), Joshua Earle (p. 151), Karl JK Hedin (p. 157), Ryan Kwok (p. 158). Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Sölvhólsgata 4 – 101 Reykjavík Tel.: +354 545 9500 | E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asm3.org June 2021 Edited By Science Contractor: Jenny Baeseman, Baeseman Consulting & Services LLC ASM3 Science Advisory Board Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, Sports and Technology (Japan) Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Iceland) with contributions from the participating countries, Indigenous and international organizations Printed By Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, Sports and Technology (Japan) Design Photograph on Front Page: Einar H. Reynisson Layout: Einar Guðmundsson © 2021 Ministry of Education Science and Culture ISBN: 978-9935-436-81-8 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 4 Iceland 70 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) 116 1. Science Summary 5 India 72 North PacificM arine Science Organization (PICES) 117 Theme One: Observe 8 Italy 74 International Network for Terrestrial Research and Theme Two: Understand 13 Japan 76 Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT) 118 Theme Three: Respond 20 The Republic of Korea 78 Polar Educators International (PEI) 119 Theme Four: Strengthen 24 The Netherlands 80 Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) 120 ASM3 in Numbers 32 Norway 82 Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) 121 2. Joint Statement 36 Poland 84 University of the Arctic (UArctic) 122 Theme One: Observe 39 People’s Republic of China 86 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 123 Theme Two: Understand 41 Portugal 88 World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 124 Theme Three: Respond 42 Republic of Singapore 90 4. Webinar Series 126 Theme Four: Strenghten 43 Russia 92 5. Moving Forward 134 Arctic Science Funders Forum 44 Spain 94 6. Acronyms 140 Conclusion 44 Sweden 96 7. Appendix 144 3. Arctic Research Overviews 47 Switzerland 98 Arctic Observing Summit Report, Call to Action 145 Austria 48 United Kingdom 100 ASM3 Workshop, Executive Summary 146 Belgium 50 United States of America 102 ISAR-6 Report, Executive Summary 153 Canada 52 Gwich’in Council International 104 8. Annex 155 Czech Republic 54 The Inuit Circumpolar Counci 106 ASM3 Program 156 Denmark 56 Saami Council 108 Heads of Delegation List 160 European Union 58 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) 110 The Faroe Islands 60 Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) 111 Finland 62 Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) 112 France 64 Group on Earth Observations (GEO) 113 Germany 66 International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) 114 Greenland 68 International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) 115 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY To strengthen international cooperation and respond to the severe threat the previous Ministerials by soliciting theme-based project updates and new of climate change and biodiversity loss in the Arctic, the Icelandic Minis- projects from participating countries, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, try of Education, Science and Culture and the Japanese Ministry of Educa- and international organizations engaged in Arctic science and education, tion, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology co-organized the 3rd Arctic while also attempting to create a more formal consultation process with the Science Ministerial (ASM3) which was held in Tokyo on 08-09 May 2021. wider research community through other international fora and through the ASM3 Webinar Series. Delegates from 27 different countries and the European Commission, as well as representatives from Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations, gathered This report includes the foundational outcomes of the ASM3 Science Process in Tokyo and online to discuss developments in international research and including the Science Summary, Joint Statement of Ministers, Arctic Re- commit to future cooperation. This meeting was built on the themes initi- search Overviews from countries and organizations, a summary of the ASM3 ated by the first Arctic Science Ministerial hosted by the United States and Webinar Series, Moving Forward document highlighting opportunities to held in Washington, D.C. in 2016, and the second Arctic Science Ministerial advance international cooperation, and an Appendix documenting the out- co-hosted by the European Commission, Finland and Germany and held in comes of the consultation process with the wider Arctic research community. Berlin in 2018. Additionally, some online resources were developed including recordings of the webinar series, a list of International Opportunities and Resources, Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic was the overarching theme for ASM3 and and a new Project Database mapping all of the ASM3 submitted projects. included four sub-themes under the titles: Observe, Understand, Respond, Strengthen. These reflect elements of the previous ASM themes and rein- The intention of this wide-reaching science process was to have robust and troduce an emphasis on education which appeared in the first Ministerial. inclusive science outcomes to provide a strong foundation for all the final outcomes of the ASM3. These outcomes create useful tools for cooperation, The Science Advisory Board was brought together under the guiding prin- deepen our understanding of both the achievements and challenges that lay ciples for ASM3: transparency, inclusivity, and implementing a bottom-up ahead, and provide a strong framework for taking urgent action. approach to science. The ASM3 Science process followed the structure of 4 01 SCIENCE SUMMARY 5 SCIENCE SUMMARY SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE FOR A SUSTAINABLE ARCTIC SUMMARY OBSERVE, UNDERSTAND, RESPOND, AND STRENGTHEN ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This Science Summary presents a synopsis of the contributions provided As part of the ASM3 Science Process, participating countries and organi- by the following: Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Faroe zations were asked to provide updates to projects submitted in support Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, the of the goals of ASM1 and ASM2 as well as new projects that support the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, themes of ASM3. Standardized forms were used to help in data analysis. In Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom (UK), United States of addition, participants were also asked to fill out a survey about international America (USA), European Union (EU), Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC), Saami cooperation and provide information about opportunities in their country/ Council, Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), Group on Earth organization for international researchers and Indigenous Peoples. The doc- Observations (GEO), International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Inter- uments received were analyzed and initiatives categorized within the four national Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA), International Council themes of ASM3 by the Science Advisory Board. Contributions and initiatives for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), International Network for Terrestrial proposed ranged from small, localized, and concentrated short-term efforts Research and Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT), North Pacific Marine involving a few researchers to large, multi-national, multi-agency long- Science Organization (PICES), Polar Educators International (PEI), Sustaining term programs involving several hundred professionals. This summary also Arctic Observing Networks (SAON), University of the Arctic (UArctic), UN includes contributions from the larger Arctic research community gathered Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization through several meetings and workshops, including the Arctic Observing (WMO) and the Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme Summit (AOS) and the IASC/IASSA/APECS Research Community Workshop, and (AMAP), Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), and the Sustainable 6th International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR-6). This document, Development Working Group (SDWG). developed by the ASM3 Science Advisory Board, offers a high-level synopsis of these contributions including summary infographics highlighting keywords and locations of research projects. It is not exhaustive, nor a consensus of the ASM3 participants, but rather aims to provide an overview to identify areas of major interests and to help catalyze further cooperation aiding in the advance- ment of our understanding of the Arctic. ASM3 prioritized transparency in the science process with detailed information available on the ASM3 website. 6 SCIENCE SUMMARY ASM3 SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD The third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) focused on “Knowledge for a › Icelandic Representative: