Climate Change and Pollution Affecting Life in the Arctic

The Arctic is warming at about twice the global average, leading to significant environmental and socio-economic changes. Sources of pollution, such as increased maritime traffic or accumulation of pollutants, are exacerbating the problems. Plastic debris of all sizes and other marine litter accumulate in the Arctic due to ocean currents and winds, threatening marine life and potentially entering the human food chain.

ICEBERG (Innovative Community Engagement for Building Effective Resilience and Arctic Ocean Pollution-Control Governance in the Context of Climate Change) focuses on the twin challenges of climate change and pollution that threaten Arctic ecosystems and the traditional lifestyles and cultural practices of indigenous communities that are closely linked to the Arctic environment. Key questions include: What types of pollution are affecting ecosystems in the European Arctic? How are they distributed and what are their impacts? How does the combination of pollution and climate-related stressors affect ecosystems and Arctic communities? The project aims to develop resilience strategies and improve pollution governance. ICEBERG is coordinated by the University of Oulu, Finland and funded for three years (2024-2026) by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme.

The research will be carried out in three Arctic regions: western Svalbard, southern Greenland and northern Iceland. The project will investigate both known and emerging pollutants such as macro-, micro- and nanoplastics, ship emissions, wastewater, persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals on land, at sea, and in the air.

Dr. Christa Marandino, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Oceanography and Head of the Trace Gas Air-Sea Exchange Group at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, is co-leader of the ICEBERG work package “Assessment of pollution sources, distribution and impacts in Arctic ecosystems”. This work package aims to improve the scientific understanding of pollution sources, their distribution and impacts on ecosystem services in the European Arctic. It will develop model simulations to analyse the response of plankton ecosystems to different types, intensities and frequencies of ship-generated waste and pollutant discharges into the ocean. These simulations will be complemented by remote sensing, in situ observations, and measurements.

In July and August, a team of GEOMAR scientists embarked on the research vessel POLARSTERN to collect samples of micro- and nanoplastic particles along a transect in the Fram Strait between Greenland and Svalbard; the expedition is led by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. The aim of the research is to characterise the microbial communities on these particles, and in particular to analyse their genetic potential for antibiotic resistance. “The amount of microplastics in our oceans is increasing and these particles can travel long distances,” says Benjamin Pontiller, postdoctoral researcher in the research unit Biological Oceanography at GEOMAR. “Studying the microbiome and associated antibiotic resistance will help us understand how microplastic pollution can affect the fragile Arctic ecosystems.”

A key aspect of ICEBERG is active engagement with indigenous peoples and local communities. Schools and interested members of the public will be involved in the research, for example by using drones to track pollution or by contributing their observations via an interactive citizen participation platform. Professor Dr Thora Herrmann, scientific coordinator of ICEBERG, says: “Together we will build a better understanding of the local impacts of pollution and co-create new solutions for monitoring, mitigation and adaptation strategies. This inclusive approach will ensure that the project is truly tailored to local needs and concerns”.

Background: ICEBERG

The ICEBERG project (Innovative Community Engagement for Building Effective Resilience and Arctic Ocean Pollution-Control Governance in the Context of Climate Change) is funded for three years (2024-2026) by the Horizon Europe programme of the European Union. Focusing on a holistic One Health approach, the project brings together researchers from different disciplines such as toxicology, social sciences, biogeochemistry and environmental sciences. The aim is to develop concrete policy recommendations for better management of pollution and to contribute to the EU's 'Restore Our Oceans and Waters' mission for healthier oceans. The project is coordinated by the University of Oulu in Finland and involves 16 partner organisations.