Polar Research in a Global Context: Advances and Future Research Priorities for Europe
18 June 2025
Brussels, 3 June 2025 – Four Horizon-funded research projects – PolarRES, CRiceS, PROTECT and OCEAN ICE – brought together scientists, advisors, policy makers and EU climate professionals for an interactive event titled: “Polar Research in a Global Context: Advances and Future Research Priorities for Europe.” The event aimed to highlight research gaps and to guide evidence-based forward-looking climate action at both European and global levels.
The meeting provided a platform to present key research findings on the Polar Regions, identify persistent knowledge gaps and reflect on the implications of polar science for climate policy. Through presentations and World Café discussions, the guests explored how EU-funded polar research can guide future research agendas and decision-making and what specific legislative actions are needed.
The event opened with remarks from Karsten Gödderz of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), Project Officer for three of the organising projects. He underlined the excellent progress achieved and emphasised the essential role of these initiatives in advancing European polar research.
General agenda
| 13:30 – 13:45 | Welcome of participants – Networking coffee | Priscilla Mooney (PolarRES) |
| 13:45 – 13:55 | Opening remarks | Karsten Gödderz (CINEA) |
| 13:55 – 14:30 | Project presentations | Various |
| 14:30 – 14:35 | Supporting polar science at ESA | Anna Maria Trofaier (ESA) |
| 14:35 – 16:20 | World Café sessions | / |
| 16:20 – 16:30 | Wrap up | / |
Project presentations:
The four organising Horizon project presentations took the stage to showcase their research and what it means for EU policy, climate resilience and our polar future.
Polar climate change in a global context – Priscilla Mooney (PolarRES)
Priscilla Mooney (PolarRES) addressed the phenomenon of Arctic amplification – the accelerated warming of the Arctic compared to the global average. She noted that existing climate models do not yet adequately reproduce observed Arctic changes, due to limited understanding of complex, interacting processes in the region.
Furthermore, she highlighted the key advances of PolarRES which include:
- Improved understanding and model representation of key processes underlying Polar Amplification;
- More reliable global simulations through better representation of polar processes in global models;
- Innovative climate projections at unprecedented resolutions for impact assessments in the Arctic and Antarctica;
- Novel and innovative assessment of regional impacts of polar climate change
Sea level rise and ice sheets – Gaël Durand (PROTECT)
Gaël Durand shared new findings indicating that glacierised regions respond differently to climate change, resulting in varied regional sea-level rise patterns. He presented the PROTECT Sea level projection tool, a demonstrator that visualises IPCC and PROTECT sea-level data. However, its policy readiness hinges on sustained institutional support.
He emphasised the need for continued EU funding to address persistent knowledge gaps in sea-level science.
The role of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica in the earth system – Ruth Mottram (OCEAN ICE)
Ruth Mottram highlighted:
- The Southern Ocean’s role in global heat and carbon uptake;
- The risk of Antarctic tipping points;
- The lack of coordinated, long-term polar observation infrastructure;
- The importance of technological innovations and Earth Observation data in improving model precision.
Despite current data limitations, she noted that recent advances are promising, but maintaining Europe’s capability will depend on sustained investment and coordination.
The key role of sea ice and Snow in the polar and global climate system – Jennie Thomas (CRiceS)
Jennie Thomas addressed the declining Arctic sea ice extent and stressed the importance of accurately modelling the coupled ocean–ice–atmosphere system. To improve Arctic sea ice forecasts, climate models must integrate physical, chemical, and ecological processes.
CRiceS policy insights included:
- Supporting evidence-based climate policymaking through improved Earth System Models;
- Enhance support for Open Science;
- Engage stakeholders and Arctic communities;
- Reinforcing international collaboration and asserting European leadership in polar research.
World café
Experts engaged across four thematic tables, examining polar research challenges and strategic priorities. Discussions highlighted persistent data gaps, modelling complexities, and the socio-environmental consequences of climate change. Below is a synthesis of their discussions:
Table 1: Polar climate change / polar amplification in a global context
The discussion highlighted critical knowledge gaps in understanding both large- and small-scale drivers of polar amplification, emphasising the need for improved model representation of heat and moisture transport, atmospheric rivers, and precipitation phase changes in a warming climate. Participants stressed the complexity of feedback mechanisms, such as surface albedo, cloud dynamics, and aerosol-cloud interactions, and the challenge of attributing observed changes to interconnected processes across scales.
Table 2: Cryospheric change and ecological / biodiversity changes and risks
Table 2 addressed the lack of robust baseline datasets, especially for biological systems, and the seasonal and geographical gaps in observations, notably in Antarctica. The discussions extended to human and ecological pressures, such as tourism, fisheries, and pollution, with calls for better regulation, infrastructure, and sustained access. Participants underscored science’s role in shaping policy, citing past success in international agreements.
Table 3: Polar ice sheets, sea level rise, and coastal adaptation
Discussions centred on polar ice sheets and sea-level rise, with an emphasis on the need for consistent, long-term observations to detect trends and refine coastal adaptation strategies. Technological solutions were welcomed, though participants stressed that foundational science should not be overlooked in favour of novelty. Concerns were raised about the limited understanding of processes under the Antarctic ice sheet and in the ocean, along with the need for environmentally conscious research methods.
Table 4: Climate and weather hazards and risks as controlled by polar change
Table 4 highlighted that short-lived extreme events in polar regions can trigger cascading impacts on ecosystems and societies, with significant implications for Europe and the global climate system. Participants emphasised the need for improved hazard forecasting through the integration of high-resolution regional and climate-scale models, supported by satellite remote sensing and in situ observations. A bipolar research strategy, uniting Arctic and Antarctic science communities, was seen as essential for a truly global perspective. The discussion also underscored the importance of incorporating AI and digital twin technologies, improving model representations of polar-specific processes, and enhancing data management systems to support robust impact assessments and stakeholder engagement
Key conclusions
Across all tables, several common priorities emerged: the need for broader data coverage and continuity, support for both incremental and breakthrough research, and deeper international and interdisciplinary collaboration. Meeting the challenges of polar climate change will demand not only technical innovation but also strategic coordination and long-term investment.
The event reaffirmed the importance of polar regions in the global climate system and demonstrated the value of Horizon-funded research in advancing our collective understanding. While scientific progress is evident, substantial knowledge gaps remain.
As the European Union looks ahead to the Horizon Europe framework and beyond, strengthening polar research capacities and linking science with policy will be essential to shape a resilient, climate-neutral future.
A policy brief summarising the event’s findings and recommendations is forthcoming.