Beyond Arctic PASSION

Beyond Arctic PASSION builds on the foundations laid by Arctic PASSION, INTAROS, and other flagship Arctic observing initiatives — bringing their achievements together into one sustained, inclusive, and operational Arctic Observing System of Systems.

Beyond Arctic PASSION is a four-year, €8.5 million EU Horizon Europe project Beyond Arctic PASSION meets for the first time at British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, 27-29 October. The project will bring together scientists, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, local communities, governments, data services and operational organisations to build a more coordinated and accessible Arctic Observing System for the environment.

The initiative comes as the Arctic experiences rapid environmental and societal change, increasing demand for reliable observations and trusted information to support communities, policymakers, researchers and industry.

Project website: 

Beyond Arctic PASSION | Arctic Observations & Knowledge

Beyond Arctic PASSION initiative comes as the Arctic experiences rapid environmental and societal change, increasing demand for reliable observations and trusted information to support communities, policymakers, researchers and industry.

Beyond Arctic PASSION accelerates a sustainable, advanced, and inclusive Arctic Observing System of Systems — combining cutting-edge science, Indigenous Knowledge, local knowledge, advanced technologies, and transparent governance. The project is structured around seven interlinked Work Packages:

WP1    Governance & long-term sustainability

WP2    A coordinated Arctic Data System

WP3    Sustainable management & decision-making

WP4    Marine & cryosphere observing systems

WP5    Data products for end users

WP6    Synthesis, dissemination & communication

WP7    Project management, exploitation & legacy WP8    Ethics requirements

Beyond Arctic PASSION builds on the foundations laid by Arctic PASSION, INTAROS, and other flagship Arctic observing initiatives — bringing their achievements together into one sustained, inclusive, and operational Arctic Observing System.

• €8.5 million EU contribution
• 48-month duration
• 40+ partner organisations
• 16 countries across Europe, North America and Asia
• 6 Arctic States represented
• 3 Indigenous Peoples’ organisations
• One shared Arctic Observing System of Systems

“The need for improved Arctic observations has never been greater,” said Dr Michael Karcher, co-lead of Beyond Arctic PASSION at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany.

“As the Arctic warms nearly four times faster than the global average, reliable observations and trusted information are essential for understanding change and ensuring that communities, policymakers, academia and industry have the knowledge they need to respond.”

Dr Jeremy Wilkinson, co-lead of the project at the British Antarctic Survey, said no single organisation or country could address the challenge alone.

“By bringing together scientific expertise, Indigenous Knowledge and local knowledge from across the Arctic and elsewhere, Beyond Arctic PASSION will help create a more coordinated, trusted, accessible and equitable observing system that supports decision-making, adaptation and sustainable development.”

For decades, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and governments have worked to develop a more coordinated Arctic Observing System connecting people, knowledge and technology.

People and organisations involved

European coordination bodies: European Polar Board, SIOS Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System, INTERACT – International Network For Terrestrial Research And Monitoring (INPA)

Arctic Council Working Group: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme Secretariat (AMAP)

Indigenous Peoples’ organisations: Saami Council, Inuit Circumpolar Council- Canada and Greenland

Early Career organisation: Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)

Local and regional governance: Arctic Mayors’ Forum

Gender and inclusion: Women of the Arctic

Science for policy: European Commission – Joint Research Centre

Science communication: GRID-Arendal

Private science sector: O.A.SYS – Ocean Atmosphere Systems GmbH

Data & Copernicus integration Mercator Ocean, PANGAEA (AWI), Seascape Belgium, Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Canadian Institutes: Arctic Institute of North America, University of Ottawa, Carleton University

European Institutes:

• Denmark: Danish Meteorological Institute, Aarhus University
• Finland: Finnish Meteorological Institute, University of Helsinki, University of Lapland
• France: French National Centre for Scientific Research
• Germany: Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
• Greenland: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
• Italy: National Research Council of Italy, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
• Norway: UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norwegian Polar Institute, Nansen Center, Institute of Marine Research
• Poland: Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences
• UK: British Antarctic Survey, The Alan Turing Institute
• Japanese Institutes: National Institute of Polar Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• South Korean Institutes: Korea Polar Research Institute
• USA Institutes: University of Washington, University of Colorado, University System of Maryland, University of Alaska Fairbanks