aRCTIC MoMENTUM
Facing the Physical Reality of the arctic Climate and considering ways to deal with it
hosted by Operaatio Arktis
Why is arctic climate change a critical issue both locally and for the global climate system?
Can the arctic summer sea ice be preserved and how?
How could we assess whether climate interventions would be safer than exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius?
For the first time, leading climate experts from across the world will gather together with policy makers, the youth and civil society in Helsinki to exchange views on climate interventions and how to prevent a climate collapse that could begin from the arctic.
These discussions were brought to Bio Rex Lasipalatsi on Thursday 31.8.2023 as a part of a three-day conference. Keynote speeches and panel discussions will share knowledge and experiences on Arctic climate risks from both a Northern and Global South perspective, and explore what action we need right now.
Keynote speakers include Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Vice-Chair of the IPCC's First Assessment Group, and Pekka Haavisto, who will speak on Finland's foreign policy role in addressing Arctic climate risks. A Finnish award-winning artist, Vesta, will close the event.
ARCTIC MOMENTUM explores climate interventions in the Arctic and the possibilities for equitable and science-led governance and research. In particular, we will raise awareness of techniques such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening (MCB). We aim to build trust and cooperation between indigenous peoples, the research community and civil society to respond to climate risks.
More information aBout the arctic momentum bio rex
and the three-day conference
The Paris agreement target of limiting global warming to well below 2°C and preferably 1.5°C remains at the center of international climate policy. However, efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been insufficient to meet this trajectory, with global temperature rise likely exceeding 1.5°C in the next five years. We are running out of time. and we have been for too long. What is more, reaching even 1.5°C of global warming would risk crossing several irreversible climate tipping points and increase climate-related risks for health, livelihoods, food and water supply as well as security.
The arctic is warming almost four times faster than the global average, which is tightly connected to its disappearing sea ice. Concerningly, local and indigenous peoples have long been experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change in the region. But the feedback between arctic warming and melting sea ice also has worldwide consequences as the global cooling effect of the arctic weakens. What happens in the arctic does not stay in the arctic, but will increase the frequency and severity of near-term climate impacts all over the world.
To address these risks, research, dialogue and stewardship are required to promote a safe trajectory for the climate system and the Arctic. In the light of current circumstances, some stakeholders are starting to consider climate interventions as part of a multi-pronged strategy to avoid risks connected to overshooting 1.5°C of global temperature rise. Climate intervention, sometimes referred to as climate repair, refers to a class of approaches for rapidly reducing warming or greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. These approaches may have the potential to help keep climatic conditions safer while emission reductions are prioritized and take effort over a longer term.
Though scientific assessments have indicated that climate interventions have potential to reduce the worst impacts of near-term climate change, sufficient research and understanding of their benefits and risks are lacking. At the same time, climate interventions have classically been discussed within circles that are not accessible to the most climate vulnerable. Involving these groups such as young people and indigenous peoples into these dialogues is required for sustainable and just action going forward. Operaatio Arktis, as a youth-led science communication project connected to Finnish officials in the Arctic, supported by SilverLining, an NGO focused on near-term climate risk with strong connections to the policymaking, global youth, and scientific communities, is well positioned to promote dialogue between these groups.
To this end, Operaatio Arktis, with mentoring support from SilverLining, is organizing a series of events in Finland to bring different stakeholders together to discuss and share knowledge about climate risks and climate intervention research. Recent publications of both Operaatio Arktis and SilverLining present guidelines for the events by calling for more research on climate interventions in order to be able to make better decisions and address near-term climate risks particularly in the Arctic.
We aim to address three questions:
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How can we assess if climate intervention scenarios might be safer than exceeding 1.5°C of global temperature rise?
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Can Arctic summer sea ice be preserved and how?
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How can Finland and other Arctic nations take a leading role in striving for a safer climate both in the Arctic region and globally?
High level goals of the event:
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Create foundations for building trust and collaboration for a longer term to counteract cascading Arctic climate risks.
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Bring scientists and experts from different backgrounds together to create influential communication and collaboration in order to prevent near-term climate risks and the disappearance of Arctic sea ice.
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Include and highlight the participation of local and indigenous peoples of the Arctic to the discussion of climate intervention research.
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Increase the awareness and understanding of climate intervention science and research, especially solar climate interventions such as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening (MCB).
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Explore strategies through which climate intervention could be governed in a way that is internationally collaborative, justice-oriented and science-led.
outcomes and next steps
With respect to the outcomes of aRCTIC MoMENTUM, we recognised a strong interest and need for more and better dialogue and research on climate interventions in general as well as to preserve arctic environments and livelihoods. We are in the process of going through the workshop material to identify the emerging critical issues and next steps for supporting research going forward.
If you wish us to share potential findings with you once the work is done, please be in touch.
Partners:
SilverLining
RaRE-media
Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation
Safer Climate Initiative
The sami youth council
ocean Visions
arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar
Green africa Youth organization
Sustenta Honduras