Geographical approaches to sustainability research and monitoring in the Arctic

  Tatiana VLASOVA, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation
  Tatiana VLASOVA, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation
  Andrey PETROV, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation
  Sergey VOLKOV, Institute of Geography, Russian Federation

Despite a wide diversity of geographical disciplinary branches that investigate challenges to Arctic sustainability, there is a crucial need for integration in order to understand, monitor and manage complex Arctic socio-ecological systems. For this purpose there is a considerable request to develop and implement a specific set of geographical approaches in the newly emerging Arctic sustainability science, in which geographers will play a core role. Such approaches are discussed in this presentation, putting a particular emphasis on the advantages and benefits attained by the rising international Arctic scientific cooperation and emerging international Arctic sustainability monitoring network. This network enables, with the help of local/indigenous people participation and knowledge co-production, the creation of  special circumpolar transdisciplinary geographical space(s), which could be considered as “islands of cooperation”, as well as important platforms for learning and fostering transformations towards Arctic sustainability.  The role of the IGU Cold and High Altitude Regions commission and other Arctic science organizations, such as the International Arctic Social Sciences Association and International Arctic Science Committee, the University of the Arctic in these activities is becoming even more critical with the implementation of the International Arctic Science Agreement.

Mots clés : socio-ecological systems |Arctic|monitoring|sustainable development|resilience building

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