Description

The Circumpolar Action Plan (CAP) identifies climate change and the associated reductions in the extent and composition of sea ice as the greatest threat to polar bear persistence. Therefore, communicating the impact of climate change on polar bears has been a consistent goal of the Polar Bear Range States and is identified as Objective 2 of the CAP: “Communicate to the public, policy makers and legislators around the world the importance of mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to polar bear conservation”.

During the Polar Bear Range States Meeting of the Parties in March 2020, a decision was made that an ad hoc working group would be established to create a circumpolar communications plan that would address the effects of climate change on polar bears, thereby helping to achieve Objective 2 of the CAP. The ad hoc Climate Change Communications Working Group (CCCWG) was established in fall 2020, and was composed of Range States representatives, as well as external, invited experts (including representatives from the Polar Bear Specialist Group (the PBSG), non-governmental organizations, Indigenous organizations, universities, and other organizations with a strong public reach). The primary goal of the CCCWG was to develop a Climate Change Communications Strategy that would outline key messages and related communication actions and products to help accomplish Objective 2 of the CAP. The Climate Change Communications Strategy was finalized in February 2023, and it contains five key messages that highlight the main concerns related to the impact of climate change on polar bears:

1. GHG emissions cause the biggest threat to polar bears and must be reduced
2. Polar bear habitats and behavior are changing due to climate change
3. The impact of climate change on polar bears is affecting humans living in the Arctic
4. Climate change is interacting with other threats in the Arctic
5. Essential habitat needs to be identified and protected

The CCCWG recognizes that amplifying the voices of arctic Indigenous Peoples, who are directly impacted by a warming arctic, can help highlight this issue. Arctic Indigenous Peoples have direct knowledge of polar bears and climate change through first-hand experience.

The workplan associated with Objective-2 for the period of 2023-2025 was delayed, mainly due to changes of key role personnel at the leading Range State countries.

It is recommended that the PBRS consider examining whether the actions which remain outstanding in the Objective-2 workplan, could be advanced in future work of the PBRS – including updating the already published climate change communications strategy periodically.