European Polar Board

The Ocean Act offers an opportunity to strengthen coherent and climate-smart ocean governance across the EU. To fully achieve its objectives, the Act should explicitly recognise polar regions as coupled oceanland systems, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, and their associated ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost, and coastal zones.

The European Polar Board, an independent organization for European polar research cooperation with a diverse membership of 31 members from 22 European countries provides input to the revision of the EU Arctic Policy. This submission is complemented by an attached document providing further evidence on the strategic benefits of a climate-centred, science-based Arctic Policy.

The European Polar Board (EPB) contributes evidence to the ECs work to strengthen the ERA. As an independent organisation bringing together 31 members from 22 countries, including research institutions, ministries, funders, and operators, we see the ERA Act as an opportunity to help research and innovation meet Europes greatest challenges.

Without the polar regions, Europe cannot fully understand, predict or govern the ocean. The Ocean Research and Innovation Strategy should therefore recognise the polar regions as a strategic pillar that delivers the knowledge, infrastructure, innovation and international cooperation needed for effective ocean governance.