Background of the Award

Melting sea ice north of Svalbard  PHOTO: Peter Prokosch/GRID-Arendal

Solutions for tackling climate change will not come from hope alone. They will also not be found solely in future technological or current regulatory innovations.

We must work together to solve the underlying causes of the ongoing transformation of our Arctic systems. We must harness all resources at our disposal.

So far, many actions relating to the changing climate have centered on measurement, information gathering and analysis. Today, however, there is a strong interest in moving towards action-based scientific programs to mitigate and/or reverse the dramatic effects of climate change in a concrete way.

Two leading organizations have come together to address the greatest challenge facing the Arctic region: global warming.

Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic and our planet. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan.

UArctic is a network of almost 200 universities, colleges, research institutes, and other organizations concerned with education and research in and about the Arctic.

Through this unique collaboration, a new forum and incentive for scientific action program has been created.

The Arctic Academic Action Award is linked to the name of Frederik Paulsen who for decades has been a strong promoter of Arctic and Antarctic research and cooperation as well as a patron and a crucial supporter of many Arctic endeavors which have facilitated the cooperation between experts and scientists from many nations. Frederik Paulsen has also demonstrated strong respect for the culture and the livelihood of Indigenous peoples. His support for the Arctic Circle and UArctic is also a contribution to our success.