Ethical research
We will follow the IASSA Principles and Guidelines for Conducting Ethical Research in the Arctic (2020), as well as ethical guidelines on geoengineering research as introduced in the London Protocol (2009) and by Hubert (2020). The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC 2021) guidelines on Ethical and Equitable Engagement with Inuit Communities are also followed, including aiming to choose culturally appropriate ways of communications and interaction in the project and seeking long-term good relationship with the community. We treat Indigenous knowledge with respect. We will seek to hire locally, and locally engaged individuals will be invited to co-author publications (including analysis and interpretation) along with the rest of the team. This gives opportunities to participate in an international research project with different scientific disciplines.
Our purpose is not to advocate ice sheet conservation or other targeted or other types of climate interventions, but to study the different aspects e.g. around ice sheet conservation, including local reservations and concerns around it, keeping in mind that the deployment of ice sheet conservation might also be opposed and declined by locals. We respect it as a plausible and acceptable result of the study if the local community does not want to have an intervention e.g. ice sheet conservation done in Ilulissat Icefjord.
Any decisions of the actual deployment of the interventions such as ice sheet conservation will take place outside and independently of this project, by relevant national and local authorities. We will ensure that Arctic communities, ministries, research community, media, education institutes, and other relevant stakeholders will be informed about the research project. We will share the results of the project widely.
References
IASSA. 2020. IASSA Principles and Guidelines for Conducting Ethical Research in the Arctic. https://iassa.org/about-iassa/research-principles (published 16.3.2020)
ICC. 2021. Ethical and equitable engagement synthesis report: A collection of Inuit rules, guidelines, protocols, and values for the engagement of Inuit Communities and Indigenous Knowledge from Across Inuit Nunaat. https://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/project/icc-ethical-and-equitable-engagement-synthesis-report/
Hubert, A.-M., 2021. A Code of Conduct for Responsible Geoengineering Research. Global Policy 12, 82–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12845
The Regulation of Geoengineering (London Protocol), n.d. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. The Regulation of Geoengineering Fifth Report of Session 2009–10 Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 10 March 2010.
Funding Principles
Current donors:
Frederik Paulsen
Quadrature Climate Foundation
We do not accept anonymous donations.
We do not accept donations from corporations, foundations, or individuals if the majority of their current profits or wealth come from the fossil fuel industry unless they can clearly demonstrate that they do not have a conflict of interest and present a strong track record of supporting efforts to address climate change.
We are concerned that fossil fuel companies or other interests will seek to exploit climate interventions as a pretext for delaying reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We do not want donors who are (or could reasonably be construed as being) motivated to support research to protect fossil fuel industries. For purposes of excluding such donors, we consider a rough weighting system as a guide. We rate the donor's ties to fossil fuels on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 has no connection with fossil fuels and 5 has nearly all of their current wealth and social connections tied to coal. Then, we rate the donor’s commitment to climate from 1 for a donor who has long devoted a majority of their time and resources to climate action to 5 for a donor who has no visible interest in climate. We then take the product of the two ratings, rejecting donors with a multiplicative combined rating that is larger than 10.
We would like to elaborate on this last point. We take issues of conflict of interest very seriously. And we take the “moral hazard” concern very seriously - the idea that research or even discussion on active conservation of the cryosphere or elements of the climate system could reduce incentives to mitigate. The world must reduce greenhouse emissions to zero, and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to address the root cause of climate change.
Transparency
We uphold a policy of transparency and openness about who is involved in our work, how the initiative and our activities are financed, on the purpose of our work and activities, and on progress and results, whatever their outcome. The Seabed Curtain webpages will be kept updated accordingly to ensure full transparency.
Sustainability, justice, and inclusivity
In our research, we search for sustainable climate intervention solutions that cover all dimensions of sustainability, including ecological, social, cultural and economic sustainability.
Considering the deployment of Arctic climate interventions, this includes careful consideration of the local environment, Indigenous and other local cultures and ways of life in the Arctic, as well as livelihoods and income aspects. Searching for locally acceptable and sustainable solutions that do not jeopardize any locally valued aspects but can support good life and the well-being of both people and the environment are at the core of the Greenland ice sheet conservation project.
Following the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) definition, environmental justice includes equal protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making processes to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. Justice aspects are also an important part of social sustainability including inclusive governance and decision-making processes, but also regarding the distribution of the impacts of climate change and climate action. We promote fairness and justice in our research, including the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of Arctic Indigenous people in research and design of cryospheric interventions for avoiding tipping points.
This Climate Action is designed to be a partnership with local people to conserve the cryosphere. In our research, we work closely with Arctic Indigenous peoples and other communities in order to make their voices heard in the research process, for making the science societally meaningful, and emphasize their vital role in the decisions on Arctic interventions. We strive to improve individual and community health and well-being by helping preserve local ways of life and empowering choice in designing their own environment. Arctic Indigenous peoples are respected as the rightsholders of their lands, and Indigenous knowledge is treated with respect.
Experience shows that young people are very motivated to do something positive about the climate crisis. They want to be constructive. These projects provide exactly that opportunity. We aim for community involvement to encourage participation of young people and children, e.g. by working with schools and youth organizations. Our workshops and materials are translated into Arctic Indigenous languages as relevant in each study, as well as Nordic languages and English.