A 5˚C Arctic in a 2˚C World: Challenges and Recommendations for Immediate Action

• Main Authors: Schlosser, Peter, Pfirman, Stephanie L., Pomerance, Rafe, Williams, Margaret, Ack, Brad, Duffy, Phil, Eicken, Hajo, Latif, Mojib, Murray, Maribeth, Wallace, Doug
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Columbia Climate Center, World Wildlife Federation, Woods Hole Research Center, and Arctic 21 2016
• Subjects: Global warming; Climatic changes; Climate change mitigation; Climatic changes > International cooperation; Arctic; Canada; Fairbanks; Arctic Institute of North America; Climate change; International Arctic Research Center; The Arctic Institute; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7916/D8640WKN

The Columbia Climate Center, in partnership with World Wildlife Fund, Woods Hole Research Center, and Arctic 21, held a workshop titled A 5*C Arctic in a 2*C World on July 20 and 21, 2016. The workshop was co-sponsored by the International Arctic Research Center (University of Alaska Fairbanks), the Arctic Institute of North America (Canada), the MEOPAR Network (Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction, and Response), and the Future Ocean Excellence Cluster. The goal of the workshop was to advance thinking on the science and policy implications of the temperature change in the context of the 1.5 to <2*C warming expected for the globe, as discussed during the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Paris in 2015. For the Arctic, such an increase means an anticipated increase of roughly 3.5 to 5*C. An international group of 41 experts shared perspectives on the regional and global impacts of an up to +5*C Arctic, examined the feasibility of actively lowering Arctic temperatures, and considered realistic time scales associated with such interventions. The group also discussed the science and the political and governance actions required for alternative Arctic futures.