Polar Perspectives No. 5 | Climate Change and Southern Ocean Resilience
Human-driven climate change is pushing the Antarctic towards numerous tipping points that will impact wider earth systems, with profound implications for humanity and biodiversity. This is the conclusion of an interdisciplinary Expert Working Group of leading Antarctic scientists published in the new report, Polar Perspectives No. 5 | Climate Change and Southern Ocean Resilience.
Issued in concurrence with the annual meeting of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties hosted by France June 14-24, 2021, Polar Perspectives No. 5 examines how climate change is rapidly pushing five critical, interconnected processes in the Antarctic Southern Ocean towards substantial changes. It warns that disrupting these processes may disproportionately exacerbate global climate change and have widespread impacts on marine and human life worldwide, due to the region’s central role in regulating our earth systems. The Expert Working Group notes that we can build resilience in the Antarctic through a set of climate-focused actions, including establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) around Antarctica and incorporating climate change issues into management and decision-making, in tandem with further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to help safeguard societies and economies around the world.
The Summary for Policymakers has been made available in six different languages. Please find these documents below. To download the full report, follow the orange button above.
- Polar Perspectives No. 5 | Climate Change and Southern Ocean Resilience
- Polar Perspectives No. 5 | Summary for Policymakers
- 极地视角 5 一次跨学科科学研讨会的报告
- Polar Perspectives Nr. 5 | Einleitung und Zusammenfassung für politische Entscheidungsträger
- Perspectivas Polares No. 5 | Introducción y Resumen Ejecutivo para los Legisladores
- Perspectives Polaires No. 5 | Introduction et résumé à l’intention des responsables politiques
- ПОЛЯРНЫЕ ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ No. 5 | Введение и резюме для специалистов по разработке политики
Authors
Contributors
Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries and Director for Ocean and Polar Affairs, US Department of State
Author of Welp: Climate Change & Arctic Identities; Climate Justice Director, Native Movement
Polar Institute
Since its inception in 2017, the Polar Institute has become a premier forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues, and is known in Washington, DC and elsewhere as the Arctic Public Square. The Institute holistically studies the central policy issues facing these regions—with an emphasis on Arctic governance, climate change, economic development, scientific research, security, and Indigenous communities—and communicates trusted analysis to policymakers and other stakeholders. Read more
Latin America Program
The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more
China Environment Forum
Since 1997, the China Environment Forum's mission has been to forge US-China cooperation on energy, environment, and sustainable development challenges. We play a unique nonpartisan role in creating multi-stakeholder dialogues around these issues. Read more
Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more
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