Workshop Report Available
Call to Action on Permafrost: Applying Knowledge and Research to Complex Problems Facing Communities
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Harvard Kennedy School
To access the publication, go to:
https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/call-action-permafrost-a…
Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs announces the release of their workshop report, Call to Action on Permafrost: Applying Knowledge and Research to Complex Problems Facing Communities.
There is a growing recognition that permafrost thaw significantly impacts the way of life for communities across the Arctic. Numerous projects aim to expand our understanding of permafrost dynamics, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the communities most impacted by these changes. These initiatives focus on delivering relevant knowledge and data to empower local decision-making.
To advance this work, Permafrost Pathways and the Arctic Athabaskan Council co-hosted a day-long workshop prior to the 24th International Conference on Permafrost (ICOP) in Whitehorse, Canada. The workshop brought together 27 participants, including 22 ICOP attendees with experience working alongside communities and five representatives from nearby Indigenous communities impacted by permafrost thaw. This group was dedicated to building bridges, addressing knowledge gaps, and developing solutions to turn insights into action, with community representatives sharing firsthand experiences that deepened the conversation.
The workshop focused on identifying practical approaches to building permafrost knowledge and leveraging research to enhance community resilience. Conversations underscored the importance of developing continuous knowledge exchange between researchers, communities, and across initiatives as an avenue for developing informed and actionable solutions.
This report highlights the key points raised during the discussions. While not comprehensive, it aims to reflect the core insights shared by participants.
To access the publication, go to:
https://www.belfercenter.org/research-analysis/call-action-permafrost-a…
For questions, contact:
Tessa Varvares, Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative
Email: tvarvares [at] hks.harvard.edu