SUPPORTING COHERENT POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING
Leads: Janet Pawlak, Arctic Monitoring & Assessment Programme and Volker Rachold, German Arctic Office
What we do
Work Package 7 is Arctic PASSION´s main instrument to communicate with policy and decision-makers regarding the needs, strategies and financial sustainability for Arctic observations. We establish suitable and effective communication platforms and fora, enabling a dialogue between the project and our relevant audience(s). We communicate Arctic PASSION outcomes and recommendations to policy and decision-making bodies, and at the same time, we receive and understand policy needs, so that Arctic PASSION can adjust its activities and actions.
We address policy and decision-makers from local to international levels. Through dialogues, consultation meetings, policy briefs, online surveys, and face-to-face briefings, we interact with
- The Arctic Council
- The European Parliament
- Regional and local decision-makers, with regional governments and agencies
- The Arctic Science Funders Forum
German Arctic Dialogue with ministries and authorities (photo: AWI/Heike Midleja) and EU briefing meeting (photo: EPB/Griffith Couser).
ARCTIC COUNCIL
The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation between Arctic States, Indigenous Peoples and other Arctic residents regarding sustainable development and environmental protection in the region. AMAP establishes the dialogue with providing reports and organising briefings at Arctic Council meetings, liaising with the agencies coordinating observations in the Arctic countries via the Arctic Council Working Groups and consulting with Indigenous Peoples regarding their needs and the better integration of Indigenous Knowledge into Arctic observations. AMAP specifically wrote a compilation about Arctic PASSION's activities and relevance to the Arctic Council and its Working Groups: Project overview for Arctic Council Working Groups and Permanent Participants.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
A sustained contact with the Members of the European Parliament and the European Commission Officials interested in Arctic and EU research programmes has been established and maintained in collaboration with EU Polar Cluster projects. The European Polar Board coordinated this task, organised a policy briefing in January 2024 in Brussels at the European Parliament, has responded to requests for advice or information from policy makers and has tracked European policies and activities that are relevant for Arctic observations systems. See here the publications related to the policy briefing meeting:
- The report about the briefing meeting to inform the members of the European Parliament and European Officials on Arctic topics of emerging priority.
- The policy brief with key messages and project descriptions handed out to in-person participants.
Policy briefing at the European Parliament together with the EU Polar Cluster member OCEAN:ICE in January 2024 (photo: EPB/Griffith Couser).
REGIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND AGENCIES
Structured dialogues with sub-national authorities and agencies have been organised to learn about their needs and questions and identify possible contributions from this level of governance to establishing long-term sustained Arctic observation systems, including community-based observations. Within these dialogues, the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland has identified key questions and needs, responded to these questions by providing concrete ideas for the benefit of sub-national governance levels and discussed the recommendations and paths forward towards sustained sub-national engagement in Arctic observation. Based on several interviews, workshops, conference sessions and an online scoping workshop, a dialogue with local and regional policymakers and agencies was established. Results from these are summarised in 3 thematic policy briefs and one last, summarising policy brief with a set of 6 action items for researchers and decision makers:
- 1. Policy brief about the knowledge gaps that affected or may affect data-driven decision-making and planning at the subnational level
The policy brief in short here. - 2. Policy brief describing the state of inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge in sub-national decision-making and data availability, needs and gaps with respect to managing and planning green transition
The policy brief in short here. - 3. Policy brief outlines the key messages that subnational policy-makers, managers, and experts want to communicate to data and knowledge producers in the Arctic
The policy brief in short here. - Report of the Online Scoping Workshop on Data-driven Subnational Decision-making in the Arctic, June 2022.
- Report of the Arctic Spirit Conference session and workshop, November 2024.
- 4. Policy brief concluding 6 future actions for data-driven subnational decision-making in the Arctic
Participants of the Arctic PASSION conference sessions at Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit 2023 conference, 15 November 2023 (photo: University of Lapland/Pavel Tkach).
ARCtIC SCIENCE FUNDERS FORUM
The Arctic Science Funders Forum was established in 2020 as an outcome of the 2nd Arctic Science Ministerial Meeting to encourage international collaboration and research funding beyond national capabilities. It is a platform for funding agencies/organisations to exchange priorities and develop joint (inter-) national funding calls. The German Arctic Office at the Alfred Wegener Institute maintains a close dialogue with the members of the Arctic Science Funders Forum, reports on Arctic PASSION activities and discusses recommendations to help national funding agencies develop their funding strategies for future Arctic observations. Beside conference sessions and meetings, an internal workshop was organised for the Forum to present Arctic PASSION’s recommendations towards a sustained Arctic observing network.
- Arctic PASSION’s recommendations towards a sustained Arctic observing network
- Policy support for the Arctic Science Funders Forum
International Arctic Funding session at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2022 in Reykjavik, Iceland (photo: AWI/Lisa Grosfeld).
News highlights

04
Jul, 25Arctic PASSION at the EU Arctic Forum
Some highlights from the EU Arctic Forum, Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue and Arctic Youth Dialogue Read More- by: Lisa Grosfeld
- Updated: 04 Jul 25

22
Apr, 25Wildfires and Air Quality Forecasting - Services Features & Users
Join the webinar on wildfires and air quality pollution, happening May 12th at 15:00 GMT Read More- by: Ilaria Crotti
- Updated: 22 Apr 25

06
Dec, 24Alizée Le Moigne - My Sharing Circle Ambassador Project
An update of my Sharing Circle Ambassador Project Read More- by: Alizée Le …
- Updated: 06 Dec 24

12
Nov, 24Arctic PASSION Online Seminar & Dialogue “Reducing the Risk to Arctic Shipping - An Introduction to POLARIS”, 4 December 12 PM GMT
The Arctic Shipping Service aims to improve available information about risk to ships operating in sea ice based on an analysis of historic shipping activity and new sea ice risk … Read More- by: Josefine Lenz
- Updated: 12 Nov 24

28
Oct, 24Science Diplomacy Through Conferencing at the Arctic Circle Assembly
A summary of the Arctic Circle roundtable discussion on Science piplomacy through conferencing Read More- by: Charlotte Gehrke
- Updated: 28 Oct 24

21
Oct, 24Arctic PASSION Online Seminar & Dialogue “The Arctic Communities Event Databases”
A webinar about Arctic PASSION's Arctic Community-Based Monitoring event databases Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 15 Oct 24

23
Sep, 24Rashmi Ramesh - My Sharing Circle Ambassador Project
An update of my Sharing Circle Ambassador Project Read More- by: Rashmi Ramesh
- Updated: 23 Sep 24

20
Sep, 24Fabian Seemann - My Sharing Circle Ambassador project
A firsthand account of the Ambassador project of the Sharing Circle. Read More- by: Fabian Seemann
- Updated: 13 Sep 24

13
Sep, 24Peyton M. Cavnar - My Sharing Circle Ambassador Project
An update of my Ambassador Project of the Sharing Circle and goals moving forward. Read More- by: Peyton M. …
- Updated: 13 Sep 24

26
Aug, 24Arctic PASSION ambassadors published article in the Finnish Climate Bulletin
Read about Jaakko Juvonen and Kaisa Juhanko's newspaper article on a warming Arctic and its impact on ecosystems and livelyhoods. Read More- by: Jaakko Juvonen …
- Updated: 26 Aug 24

23
Aug, 24Sharing Circle representation at the 12th International Conference on Permafrost (ICOP) in Whitehorse, Canada
Read more about Arctic PASSION's Sharing Circle participants who attended the 12th International Conference on Permafrost (ICOP) in Whitehorse, Canada. Read More- by: Louise Mercer …
- Updated: 22 Aug 24

30
Jul, 24Recap of Arctic Circle Berlin
Read about Arctic PASSION's participation at the Arctic Circle Berlin, 7-8 May 2024. Read More- by: Lillian Schraps
- Updated: 30 Jul 24

08
Feb, 24Local Arctic policy-makers on good practices and challenges for pursuing green transition
Adam Stepien provides insights from the Arctic Spirit Conference in Rovaniemi, November 2023. Read More- by: Adam Stepien
- Updated: 08 Feb 24

22
Jan, 24From changing polar regions to policy responses - Strengthening EU and global climate preparedness
Arctic PASSION and OCEAN:Ice jointly hosted a hybrid policy briefing event at the EU Parliament on January 24th. Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 22 Jan 24

29
Jun, 23The power of Indigenous voices and data supporting the green transitional Decision-making in the Arctic: The power of indigenous voices and data supporting the green transition
A policy brief “Data-driven Subnational Decision-making in the Arctic: The power of Indigenous voices and data supporting the green transition”, developed by the team at the Unive… Read More- by: Pavel Tkach, …
- Updated: 19 Jun 23

16
May, 23Knowledge co-creation for policy
Kotryna Markeviciute's advice on partnership for knowledge co-creation for policy, emphasises that arts-based methods could provide the space for dialogue. Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 16 May 23

02
Feb, 23Emerging leaders session at Arctic Frontiers 2023
Arctic PASSION held a session at Arctic Frontiers 2023 for emerging leaders Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 09 Aug 23

22
Dec, 22Arctic PASSION at SMM
Read Janet Pawlak and Heïdi Sevestre's summary of Arctic PASSION's participation on the leading international maritime trade fair (SMM) earlier this year. Read More- by: Janet Pawlak …
- Updated: 07 Feb 23

20
Sep, 22New Fact Sheet on the EU’s Role in the Arctic
What role does the EU play in the Arctic? The fact sheet on the EU’s role in the Arctic by the Arctic PASSION partner German Arctic Office gives you an insight into it. Read More- by: Pia Burkhardt
- Updated: 14 Sep 22

18
Jul, 22Supporting data-driven decision-making at the local and regional level in the Arctic
Scientists, experts and decision-makers met to identify key issues in linking pan-Arctic observing systems with the needs and responsibilities of authorities and agencies. Read More- by: Adam Stepien, …
- Updated: 18 Jul 22

04
May, 22Scoping Workshop on Data-driven Subnational Decision-making
On June 8th we are hosting an online workshop to bring together local, regional and national decision-makers, experts and researchers to identify key issues between pan-Arctic obs… Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 04 May 22

14
Jan, 22Arctic PASSION scientists featured on EU4Oceans podcast
Arctic PASSION scientists have been actively contributing their expertise on the European Commission’s EU4Ocean podcast called “If oceans could speak”. Read More- by: Sabrina Heerema
- Updated: 14 Jan 22