By 2050, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free during the summer. This opens up new shipping routes and resource exploitation, but also brings unknown consequences for the climate and ecology, potential significant changes in fish stocks, and major power rivalries of an unknown extent.
At Arctic Frontiers, we are initiating research collaboration to find the answers we need for sound management of the northern areas and a secure geopolitical future. Over the next ten years, 18 Norwegian institutions, including NORCE, will research, observe, and analyze the future Arctic Ocean across a broad scientific spectrum.
We are political scientists, oceanographers, economists, biologists, geophysicists, lawyers, climate scientists, technologists, social scientists, seismologists, mathematicians, engineers, humanists, and physicists – nearly every type of scientist. Additionally, this effort will involve infrastructure on land, water, and in the air, as well as a highly necessary support system.
The 18 institutions will collectively invest one billion kroner of their own resources, as well as one billion kroner from the Research Council of Norway. Moreover, numerous international research communities, institutions, and research funders from around the world have shown great interest in the research program.
The kick off for Arctic Ocean 2050, highlighted that Norway's largest research program ever is now getting underway. The next ten years will be incredibly important for our shared future in the Arctic.
