Polar ocean research moves centre stage at Brussels AAORIA workshop
1 October 2025
The frozen edges of our planet may feel remote, but what happens in the polar oceans directly influences the world’s climate, weather, and oceans. That was the message from the Polar Oceans and Climate: Advancing Synergies for Long-Term Global Collaboration workshop, hosted by the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA).
Held at the European Commission’s Charlemagne Building in Brussels, the event placed the Polar Regions firmly in the spotlight, underlining their central role in the Earth’s climate system and why they must remain at the heart of European and global research and policy.
Advancing synergies for long-term global collaboration
The workshop highlighted various scientific projects showcasing collaboration in Arctic and Antarctic research. Many of these flagship initiatives will pave the way to the 5th International Polar Year (IPY), planned for 2032-2033, a cyclical event that brings together scientists, organisations and governments for coordinated research.
The last IPY, held in 2007-2008, generated strong momentum for polar research, driving new funding streams, technological advances and broader stakeholder engagement. Planning for the upcoming cycle is already under way, with calls being launched to support its organisation. More information is available here: https://ipy5.info
Echoing this spirit of coordination, the newly launched European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) [LINK] was introduced. EPCO connects EU-funded polar projects, including PolarRES, and enhances communication efforts to ensure that scientific findings feed into policy, maximising the impact of European polar research.
Spotlight on the Southern and Arctic oceans
Project presentations first turned south, to the Southern Ocean, a region whose influence on the climate far exceeds its size. Although relatively small, it absorbs almost half of the world’s oceanic carbon dioxide and three quarters of its excess heat, making it a crucial player in the global system.
Alyce Hancock of the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) explained how integrated observation networks are closing long-standing knowledge gaps. Initiatives such as Antarctica InSync are also building synchronous, multidisciplinary observing networks that combine ship-based expeditions and remote sensing data.
South African scientist Marcello Vichi (University of Cape Town) outlined the challenge of sustaining his country’s Antarctic role when domestic priorities often take precedence. As the only African signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, South Africa plays a unique role in polar science. Yet maintaining essential infrastructure, such as keeping a national research vessel afloat, is proving increasingly difficult without European backing. Monitoring remains vital because the seasonally shifting boundary of the Southern Ocean strongly influences southern African weather patterns.
The second half of the workshop shifted focus to the Arctic Ocean, where local changes in circulation and ecosystems reverberate far beyond the region.
AAORIA partners presented a range of national and regional Arctic research initiatives. Among them was Piotr Kuklinski, who explained that Poland has conducted over 30 years of monitoring in the Greenland Sea. Today, cutting-edge technologies enable multi-parameter observations of shallow Arctic subtidal zones, providing valuable data to help predict ecosystem changes.
These efforts show that even countries geographically distant from the Arctic are invested in its future, recognising the far-reaching consequences of regional change.
A strong infrastructure foundation for polar science
Throughout the workshop, one theme surfaced repeatedly: the need for robust infrastructure and international collaboration. Extreme conditions make polar science costly and logistically difficult, but transnational observation systems are helping overcome these barriers. As Veronica Willmott of AWI put it,
“We must continue to invest in polar research infrastructure, support transnational access programs and foster international collaboration.”
The workshop concluded with a joint statement affirming that the Polar Regions are central to understanding and managing Earth’s climate. For policymakers, the message was clear: investment in polar research strengthens our capacity to anticipate risks, informs climate adaptation, and supports international ocean governance. For scientists, the task is equally pressing: build open, outcome-oriented systems that translate knowledge into solutions.
Rather than distant outposts, the Arctic and Antarctic are central theatres in the fight against climate change. Elevating polar research as a shared priority could prove decisive for a sustainable ocean and a secure future.