Science Diplomacy in and for the Arctic: Opportunities in Turbulent Times

International science cooperation on climate: Science for Climate

Climate science is key to assessing the significant impact that climate change has on the fragile Arctic ecosystem and the people living in the region. But it is equally indispensable for the rest of the world, given how changes in the Arctic also have a global impact.

As expressed by the former EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas at the 2nd Arctic Science Ministerial: “Without science, we cannot understand the changes in the Arctic, and without science, we cannot prepare the future. Arctic science and research are essential to give evidence-based advice to policymaking processes.”

Major EU Research Programs, such as Horizon Europe, are focused on cooperation in Arctic science. The European approach is based on the promotion of networking and collaborative research in polar science, as well as bringing together different expertise, data and resources in a systematic manner. An illustration is the recent European Polar Science Week, marked by strong cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency, regarding polar science. Its aim was to bring together the European polar science community and to reinforce European cooperation for polar science.

Arctic research cooperation in the field of climate change has been impacted particularly by the paused cooperation between Russian and Western scientists due to the war and sanctions imposed on Russia. However, not all climate research has been affected in the same way. Some research cooperation is more disturbed than others. For example, research that requires long-term data such as permafrost research is likely to be most affected.

It is important to put these changes into perspective, without downplaying the issue. This is for the following reasons:

Firstly, Arctic science cooperation has by no means ended. On the contrary!

Already before the war, there was and still is, an impressive amount of Arctic science cooperation, without Russian participation. This was demonstrated at a seminar of the Polar Institute / Wilson Center on EU-US research cooperation related to the Arctic. It discussed the global importance of Arctic science and research, how science diplomacy supports the safety and stability of Arctic regions, and particularly the importance of US-EU scientific cooperation to build bridges of understanding in a world moving towards strategic competition. One example of the strong EU-US scientific cooperation related to the Arctic is the INTERACT Project, which involves a network of one hundred research stations in the Arctic and over 1000 researchers.

Moreover, we are witnessing a substantive increase of research cooperation elsewhere. The following examples are mentioned in a publication by the Academia European Bergen Special Report, on “The future of Arctic science and science diplomacy”:

The seven Western Arctic States have expanded partnerships between them. A stronger Nordic science collaboration is being established. Norwegian universities are building new scientific partnerships with Canada, the US, and Greenland. At the European level, scientists are connecting closer, sharing experiences, best practices, and data. EU programs, such the EU-Polar Net, the European Polar Board, and the EU Polar Cluster, are of high value in the current situation.

I would like to add the invaluable contribution of non-Arctic States to polar research to this already impressive list of increased scientific cooperation. Indeed, the need to increase cooperation among the like-minded has created opportunities for non-Arctic States. One example is Belgium, which has historically strong ties with the Arctic states, expertise in polar science and climate research, and a long tradition on multilateral cooperation. In May 2022, the IASC welcomed Belgium as the 24th new member country.

The changing landscape of scientific collaboration in the Arctic also offers the ‘opportunity’ to shift the focus of climate research to regions other than Russia. More studies by SIOS, the Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observation System are now done in Greenland; and permafrost research by the German Alfred Wegener Institute has shifted to the American Arctic, after more than 30 years of scientific research cooperation with Russia on permafrost in Siberia.

The lack of scientific data from Russia is problematic, but strategies exist for scientists to close some of the data gaps. Scientists now cooperate more intensively with the earth observation community, providing opportunities for global space-based observations. Already now, the EU’s Space Program, COPERNICUS, with its Climate Change Services, helps researchers in understanding permafrost thaw, and its impact on infrastructure, society and people. The new Sentinel mission, the CIMR—Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer—is particularly interesting for monitoring permafrost. Moreover, the (planned) Copernicus CO2M constellation of satellites will enable detailed monitoring of emissions of methane.

To summarize, some Arctic scientific cooperation might indeed be affected by the current global tensions, but it is not a black and white picture. New avenues and promising opportunities have been created.

International research and innovation for sustainable development

Arctic science and innovation for sustainable development is even more important in the current turbulent geopolitical context. Besides the key importance of ensuring that any development in the Arctic region is done in a sustainable way, it also allows addressing the challenge of reducing high energy dependence from single source countries.

Geopolitics forced the EU to accelerate the use of renewable energy. The increased use of renewable energy also gives a boost to the green transition. It is known that there is a huge amount of renewable energy in the Arctic.

The EU’s research is being used to make the Arctic a test location for sustainable innovation. One example is the development of cold-climate technologies. Among other things, these developments enable the use of energy infrastructure, such as windmills in extreme cold environments. At the same time, the EU promotes an inclusive and sustainable development of the Arctic to the benefit of its inhabitants, whose rights must be respected, and actively engages indigenous knowledge.

Critical minerals are another crucial aspect for the global green transition, many of which are present in the Arctic. Critical and strategic raw materials are essential for the EU’s economy, including for increasing the EU’s strategic autonomy, given Europe’s current high dependency especially from China.

Here, the importance of science comes into play again. Extracting resources in the Arctic should be done in a sustainable and responsible way. Therefore, the latest technological innovations for mining are needed to minimize environmental impact. In this regard, the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) recently published “The role of research and innovation in ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of critical raw materials in the EU.”

A concrete example relates to a mining project in northern Sweden to produce green steel—fossil-free hydrogen powered steel, by 2030. New technologies—the world’s first fossil-free steelmaking technology—will cut 40 to 50 million tons of CO2 emissions annually from Europe’s iron steel and iron value chain. This is equal to Sweden’s entire annual CO2 emissions.

Research cooperation in the field of innovative technologies that are needed for sustainable development, are not affected by the pause of scientific cooperation with Russia. This is mainly due to the fact that it is Russia that relies on Western research and innovations in this area.

The importance of Science Diplomacy: Science In Diplomacy

Science in diplomacy means using scientific knowledge in decision making. This type of science diplomacy is hardly affected by the current geopolitical turbulences. This is different from science diplomacy in the sense of “science for diplomacy” or science as a bridge builder.

The 2nd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM2) (Berlin, October 2018), organised by the EU, Germany and Finland, was a clear example of science in diplomacy. In demonstrating the strong intersection of science and politics, former EU Commissioner Carlos Moedas said: "Sometimes, science has the power to succeed where diplomacy can fail. I think as politicians we need to keep the importance of this relationship at the front of our minds".

Meanwhile, the topic of science diplomacy has gained attention at major international conferences on the Arctic, such as at Arctic Circle Berlin Forum and Arctic Frontiers 2024, and will continue to feature prominently in future events. As is the case with ASMs, these Arctic Conferences also excel in “inclusiveness”, which is a major strength.

The EU is a leading actor in promoting science diplomacy. It aims to use EU science diplomacy for the benefit of the EU’s strategic capacities, the promotion of fundamental values, and the development for addressing societal challenges. Current research projects under the Horizon 2020 program address science diplomacy, such as the project “Using Science for/in Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges”.

The EU’s focus on science diplomacy plays into the EU’s strengths as a research and innovation powerhouse. This certainly applies to the Arctic. The EU is a major funder and supporter of Polar science and research, through its Research and Innovation Framework programs (HorizonEurope) and through the EU’s space capabilities that benefit the Arctic.

The EU’s strong promotion of science-diplomacy is part of the EU’s priority of making Europe stronger in the world. The EU advocates for a stronger focus on science and technology in the EU’s foreign and security policies in terms of science diplomacy, which is clearly reflected in the EU’s Arctic Policy.

Despite the challenging geo-political environment with its inevitable implications for polar research, the current situation is also an opportunity for science diplomacy in and for the Arctic. It is an opportunity to strengthen international research cooperation among “like-minded partners” and a unique opportunity to profit from the impressive Arctic research done also by non-Arctic countries. It is a win-win-situation for all who care about the Arctic, within and outside this precious region.

No. 9/2024, 10th October 2024

This article is a part of the Arctic Circle Journal Series which provides insight, understanding and new information. The material represents the opinions of the author but not those of Arctic Circle.