The Cold is Getting Hot!

The opening session officially launched the Monaco Polar Symposium 2024. It included welcome remarks by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, following contributions from high-level representatives of the organising institutions. Together, they welcomed participants, introduced the objectives and key themes of the Symposium, and set the overall ambition for two days of dialogue and collaboration on the future of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Henry Burgess

President

International Arctic Science Committee

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco

Jefferson Cardia Simões

Director

Centro Polar e Climatico - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

The PA2F-SCAR and PA2F-IASC Fellowship Awards Ceremony celebrated the first recipients of the Polar Initiative fellowship programmes. The Fellows were invited on stage to receive, from the hands of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, a certificate recognising the award of their fellowship. The ceremony highlighted the Polar Initiative’s commitment to empowering the next generation of polar researchers and strengthening international scientific collaboration, capacity building, and science diplomacy for the future of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The Symposium opened with a cross-generational dialogue bringing together perspectives from research, Indigenous representation and emerging polar leadership to frame the discussions ahead.

Elle Merete Omma

Head of EU Unit

Saami Council

Jilda Alicia Caccavo

Research Associate

Institute Pierre-Simon Laplace

Victoria Herrmann

Fellow, the Re.Generation programme

the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundatio

Bringing together leading representatives from Arctic and Antarctic institutions, this panel explored the major international initiatives shaping polar research over the coming decade. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge, coordinating long-term observations and research infrastructure, strengthening data sharing, and preparing collectively for major milestones such as ICARP IV, and Antarctica InSync.

Larry Hinzman

Vice President

UArctic and the University of Alaska

Antje Boetius

President and CEO

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Jane Francis

Director

British Antartic Survey

Jefferson Cardia Simões

Director

Centro Polar e Climatico - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Sara Olsvig

Chair

Inuit Circumpolar Council

moderator

Renuka Badhe

Secretary General

EuroGOOS

Co-organised with the European Polar Board, this workshop brought participants together in thematic breakout groups to explore the relationships between existing long-term initiatives, identify key gaps and needs, and define shared priorities for future polar research and policy. Polar Initiative Fellows and APECS representatives served as rapporteurs, capturing the discussions and presenting the main recommendations from each group.

Discussions were organised around four thematic topics:

• Science priorities for the long-term initiative (Deneb Karentz, Matthew Druckenmiller, Camilla Brekke)
• Ensuring equitable participation for all stakeholders (Bridget Larocque, Malgorzata Smieszek)
• Funding and infrastructure logistics (Antje Boetius, Jane Francis)
• Science-policy considerations, led by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) (James Kirkham, Lydie Lescarmontier)

Jérôme Chappellaz and Antje Boetius presented the main conclusions of the One Planet – Polar Summit, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, science-based international action to protect the Arctic and Antarctic and address the accelerating impacts of climate change.

Antje Boetius

President and CEO

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

moderator

Genie Godula

Senior Anchor

France 24

Ce cocktail dînatoire, organisé à l'Aquarium du Musée océanographique, prolonge la visite libre et offre un moment convivial d’échanges et de rencontres dans un cadre immersif.

Bringing together representatives from Indigenous organisations, science, conservation, policy and the private sector, this panel examined the impacts of human activities on polar biodiversity, communities and economies. Discussions highlighted the need to combine robust scientific evidence with Indigenous knowledge to better understand the interconnected challenges facing the polar regions and to support informed, inclusive and effective policymaking.

Birgit Njåstad

Antarctica Program leader

Norwegian Polar Institute

Cassandra Brooks

Professor

University of Colorado Boulder

Elle Merete Omma

Head of EU Unit

Saami Council

Mads Qvist Frederiksen

Directeur exécutif

Arctic Economic Council

Snorri Sigurðsson

Head of Division of Nature Protection

Iceland Institute of Natural History

Vicki Lee Wallgren

Director

WWF Global Arctic Programme

moderator

Helen Millman

World Economic Forum Hoffmann Fellow for the Poles

University of Exeter

Co-organised with the World Economic Forum, this workshop invited participants to explore how the impacts of global climate change on the polar regions can be better integrated into global mitigation and adaptation strategies. Following introductory remarks by Gail Whiteman, participants worked in thematic breakout groups, while Polar Initiative Fellows and APECS representatives served as rapporteurs, synthesising the discussions and presenting the main recommendations.

Discussions were organised around three thematic topics:

• Infrastructure and transportation (facilitators: Viktorija Starych-Samuoliene, Hugo Guímaro, Rob DeConto)
• Local communities, human activities and tourism (facilitators: Elle Merete Omma, Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Birgit Njåstad)
• Human health, food and water security (facilitators: Bridget Larocque, Victoria Herrmann, Céline Le Bohec)

moderator

Gail Whiteman

Professor & Founder

University of Exeter Business School & Arctic Basecamp

This conversation introduced two initiatives supporting polar research and the preservation of essential scientific knowledge: the Tara Polar Station, presented by Romain Troublé, and Ice Memory, presented by Anne-Catherine Ohlmann.

Anne-Catherine Ohlmann

Director

Ice Memory Foundation

Romain Troublé

Executive Director

Tara Ocean Foundation

moderator

Genie Godula

Senior Anchor

France 24

Offiial Closing Session of the Monaco Polar Symposium

Henry Burgess

President

International Arctic Science Committee

Jefferson Cardia Simões

Director

Centro Polar e Climatico - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Olivier Wenden

Vice President & CEO

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Robert Calcagno

CEO

Oceanographic Institute, Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation