“Arctic Ocean 2050” is Norway’s largest research project ever and will provide new and necessary knowledge about a sea area that is undergoing dramatic change. The budget of one billion Norwegian kroner was launched today by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Research and Higher Education and the Minister of Trade and Industry.
The project brings together 18 Norwegian research institutions in a nationwide consortium. The Nansen Center plays a central role in this major initiative, both in project management and in upcoming research activities.
The Arctic Ocean will probably be ice-free in summer by 2050. This will have major consequences for the climate, ecosystems, geopolitics and resource management. The “Arctic Ocean 2050” project will provide the knowledge needed to manage this new, open sea area in the best possible way. The goal is to enable us to meet the global challenges facing the Arctic in the coming decades through research and sustainable management in a region that is undergoing rapid change. Several of the Nansen Centre’s research areas will be central to the implementation of “Arctic Ocean 2050”.
‘This is an absolutely necessary initiative given the major climatic and geopolitical changes facing the Arctic, and we are proud to contribute our world-leading expertise in climate, ocean and sea ice modelling, ocean observation systems and remote sensing,’ says Tore Furevik, Director of the Nansen Center and Deputy Chair of the “Arctic Ocean 2050” Board.
The project builds on previous national initiatives such as “GoNorth” and “The Legacy of Nansen” and enjoys broad political support. “Arctic Ocean 2050” will help strengthen Norway’s position as a leading knowledge provider in the Arctic and play a key role in the International Polar Year 2032-2033. The allocation also highlights the responsibility that the Norwegian authorities are taking to meet the major challenges in the northern areas – where research, cooperation and sustainability are central.
