The Arctic is one of the most rapidly changing regions on the planet. These changes are
taking place with striking breadth and diversity, and in ways that fundamentally affect
the Arctic’s ecosystems and the lives of its inhabitants. While climate change is the most
prominent driver of change, many other environmental changes are taking place alongside
rapid social and economic developments. In some contexts, social, political, economic
and ecological drivers may be of greater significance than climate change. Social processes
driving Arctic change include increasing demand for resources and for transportation,
migration, geopolitical changes and globalization. Ecosystem changes include, for
example, drawdown of fish resources and degradation of Arctic landscapes. As a result,
the Arctic faces multiple and simultaneous social and environmental stressors. An integral
part of the assessment is to identify policy and management options.
This Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013 marks the halfway point in a process set in
motion at the start of the Swedish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. It aims to better
understand the nature of critical thresholds in the Arctic and the sources of resilience
in the face of environmental and social pressures, including choices that strengthen
capacities to adapt and transform in the face of change. Because local changes are nested
in larger-scale processes, it investigates the important interactions across scales. A core
goal of this project is to better understand the combined impacts of change in the Arctic,
focusing on the risk of large shifts in ecosystems services that affect human well-being.
By taking an inter-disciplinary approach and analyzing the dynamics of change, the
report generates crucial knowledge to inform decision-making regarding adaptation
and transformation.
The project has been led by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Stockholm
Resilience Centre in collaboration with the Resilience Alliance. Importantly, the project
has built on collaboration with other Arctic states and the indigenous peoples in the
region, as well as with several Arctic scientific organizations.
We are looking forward to the final report in the spring of 2015 and anticipate further
valuable insights into options for policy and other action and for understanding resilience
and the risks associated with crossing thresholds of change.
