The new hubs and databases document past environmental events experienced by Arctic societies and provide a more complete picture of past change. They also present contemporary weather and ecological monitoring, cultural indicators, and oral histories to establish baselines of change in the Arctic environment.
The report presents gained knowledge from stakeholders and parties on challenges in Greenland marine research and insights for developing East Greenland environments. The seminar and workshop emphasized the need for forward-looking approaches to inform decision-makers.
The European Union has launched the €5.5 million SEA-Quester project to investigate carbon cycling in novel marine polar ecosystems due to climate change. The project aims to improve understanding of 'polar blue carbon' through field observations, remote sensing, and modelling.
A new high-resolution dataset from Svalbard's glaciers provides unprecedented insights into calving front changes, revealing a retreating trend for most glaciers. The data can be used to improve mass balance assessments and explore drivers of glacier calving, crucial for understanding climate change's impact on the Arctic Cryosphere.
The Arctic Landscape EXplorer (ALEX) provides spatially explicit information on recent or ongoing thaw and erosion in the Arctic. ALEX contains data on satellite-derived trends in land surface changes at 30m resolution, offering insights into permafrost stability and its impact on infrastructure and communities.
ECOTIP presented recommendations to enhance biodiversity monitoring in Greenlandic fisheries, focusing on data analysis and animal tissue samples. The recommendations aim to improve biodiversity monitoring in the Arctic region.
A H2020-funded project reviewed 'local ecological knowledge' for Greenland and interviewed fishers in West, South and East Greenland. The recommendations are available in English, Danish, and Kalaallisut for informing Greenlandic fisheries policy.
The Arctic Permafrost Atlas reveals alarming changes in landscapes, ecosystems, and human lives due to climate change. Over five million people are at risk of losing frozen ground beneath their feet by 2050, with significant economic implications for oil and gas production.
The new policy paper emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge and data in subnational decision-making for a sustainable green transition. It identifies key strategies to enhance inclusion, such as awareness-raising among policymakers, increasing Indigenous representation, and facilitating knowledge exchange.
A regime shift in the Southeast Greenland marine ecosystem has led to a permanent change from an ice-infested to a more temperate system, with large numbers of fin and humpback whales migrating to the area. This tipping point may be irreversible, having cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.
The report projects a global increase in extreme fires by up to 50% by the end of the century, with a call for governments to shift their investments from reaction to prevention and preparedness. The authors recommend a 'Fire Ready Formula' with two-thirds of spending devoted to planning, prevention, and recovery.
A recent workshop report emphasizes the significant ecological importance of whales in maintaining healthy oceans. Whales help mitigate climate change through nutrient transport and carbon sequestration, while also enhancing marine productivity and promoting biodiversity.
A new study published in Science of the Total Environment reveals mangroves are significantly impacted by plastic pollution from rivers, with 54% of habitats within 20km of a polluting river. River deltas receive 52% of plastic pollution, while rocky shores receive only 6%
The new global standard on tailings management establishes comprehensive best practices for planning, design, operation, and closure of mine tailings facilities. This system-wide change is expected to dramatically improve safety and prevent catastrophic failures.
A new review of 80 research papers reveals that microplastic pollution is concentrated in coastal habitats such as fjords and estuaries. The study found high concentrations of microplastics, up to 200,000 particles per kilogram, in these areas.
The SeaBee project will develop a national centre for state-of-the-art environmental research, mapping, and monitoring of Norway's coasts using drones, machine learning, and novel cloud storage solutions. This will enable better understanding and management of the country's coastal environment.
The ECOTIP project aims to advance understanding of the impacts of climate change on Arctic biodiversity and its cascading effects on marine ecosystems and human societies. The four-year initiative will conduct pioneering assessments of changes to Arctic marine ecosystems and societies, from melting ice to shifting fisheries.
Seagrass meadows provide valuable ecosystem services, including carbon storage, fish nurseries, and storm protection. However, their decline threatens global food security and biodiversity, with an estimated 7% of seagrass habitat lost worldwide each year.
The Global Tailings Portal provides detailed information on over 1,700 tailings dams worldwide, helping the industry reduce dam failures and minimize environmental impact. The database brings transparency to the mining industry, benefiting regulators, researchers, and local communities.