This insight is elaborated in the invited Cambridge Prisms perspective – Science Diplomacy and the 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5): Planetary Considerations Across Centuries – that was crafted by Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman and published in February 2025, as reported in the press release from Cambridge University Press:
''There is no time to lose in studying the Arctic and working towards climate solutions. Ice is diminishing rapidly in both polar zones, changing planetary albedo, and methane outgassing from the Arctic is increasing greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The Arctic, in particular, is a region of geopolitical complexities with superpowers, noting Arctic research is incomplete without all nations.''
The goal of this paper is to inspire and empower next-generation leaders, harmonizing with the 2023-2024 Concept Notes for IPY-5, which are guided by a broad set of principles – “striving for holistic, systemic, transdisciplinary research approaches” – as initiated by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
More broadly, this paper is intended to offer hope and inspiration in our world of the early 21st century – beyond the short-sighted sound bites and political fiat with the rise of nationalism that jeopardizes our sustainability as well as our survival at personal-to-planetary levels.
“At the levels of peoples, nations and the world – the challenge is to operate across a “continuum of urgencies” to make informed decisions from security-to-sustainability time scales, requiring science with diplomacy to negotiate short-to-long term for the benefit of society.”
Informed decisionmaking is like driving a car, involving immediate risks to the left and right with red lights in front to navigate into the future while viewing past circumstances in the rear-view mirror. Planning for IPY-5 is far enough into the future to be imaginative and hopeful but close enough to be practical across our globally-interconnected civilization.
“Safer drivers look further down the road – maneuvering with informed decisions in view of red lights and traffic ahead as well as upcoming from the rear.”
IPY-5 is a cross-cutting opportunity for the University of the Arctic (UArctic) to build momentum across the coming decade with transdisciplinary initiatives that integrate the natural sciences, social sciences and Indigenous knowledge. The UArctic Thematic Network for Science Diplomacy with its Next-Generation Science Diplomat Committee welcomes IPY-5 collaboration inclusively.
Prof. Paul Arthur Bergman
Founder and President at Science Diplomacy Center
Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Science Diplomacy