Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to launch Call to Action to coordinate polar action towards the Fifth International Polar Year

Building on the Monaco Polar Symposium 2026, the Call to Action invites governments, scientific organisations, Indigenous Peoples, NGOs and international partners to join in the development of flagship initiatives ahead of the Fifth International Polar Year.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, through its Polar Initiative, is launching a Call to Action to strengthen international cooperation and translate polar research into sustained action. The call will be presented on 17 November during a panel discussion organised by the Polar Initiative at the Cryosphere Pavilion of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. It will establish a framework for collaboration towards the Fifth International Polar Year (IPY5, 2032–2033).

The Call to Action builds on the third Monaco Polar Symposium, held from 25 to 27 February 2026 under the theme “Enabling the Legacy: Translating Polar Research into Action”. Jointly organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), in collaboration with the Oceanographic Institute - Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, the event brought together 170 participants from 31 countries and territories, spanning polar science, governance, conservation, finance, and Arctic Indigenous communities and organisations.

Under the guiding principle “Research to Action”, participants identified 17 potential flagship initiatives across five thematic pillars. The Call to Action seeks to advance these proposals through international collaboration, co-production of knowledge, stronger governance and sustainable financing ahead of IPY5.

As HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco stated: “The years leading to 2032 give us a unique opportunity to build the legacy of IPY5. We have a shared direction and a roadmap. Our duty now is to turn them into coordinated, ambitious and lasting action for the protection of the polar regions.”

FIVE PILLARS TO ADVANCE COORDINATED POLAR ACTION

The 17 initiatives form an interconnected portfolio addressing scientific, environmental, institutional and societal priorities across five pillars:

·        Planetary Risk & Science Diplomacy (4 initiatives): improving understanding of polar change and translating scientific observations into practical tools for adaptation and international decision-making. Proposals include reducing uncertainties around Antarctic sea-level rise, developing locally relevant projections for vulnerable coastlines and establishing a polar early warning system.

·        Digital Territories & Data Infrastructure (3 initiatives): strengthening access to scientific data and developing interoperable digital tools, including artificial intelligence and digital twins, within ethical frameworks that respect Indigenous Knowledge and data sovereignty.

·        Indigenous Leadership & Co-Production of Knowledge (3 initiatives): establishing rights-based approaches to research and governance, including community-led observation networks and a proposed Indigenous Peoples’ IPY5 Secretariat to support meaningful co-leadership.

·        Governance & New Architectures (4 initiatives): reinforcing international scientific cooperation, Antarctic marine conservation and long-term financing. Potential initiatives include a Polar Science Funders-Investors Summit and a permanent funding architecture for polar research.

·        Knowledge, Narrative & Citizen Engagement (3 initiatives): connecting polar science with education, public understanding and citizen participation, including proposals for an international IPY5 education programme and community-led citizen science.

For Gary Wilson, President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), internationally coordinated scientific efforts are essential: “The need for better understanding leading to action is greater than ever and the need for an internationally coordinated and collaborative research effort is greater than ever.”

BUILDING THE PARTNERSHIPS AND FINANCING PATHWAYS FOR IPY5

Beyond identifying potential initiatives, the Call to Action invites the international polar community to use the 2026–2032 period to establish the conditions necessary for their development and long-term implementation.

A central priority is to address the limitations of existing funding systems, particularly their fragmentation and incompatibility with the timescales required for polar observation, scientific infrastructure and international research.

The Monaco Polar Symposium Outcome Report identifies five complementary funding approaches, including progressive financing from pilot projects to sustained programmes, dedicated multinational funding mechanisms, blended finance and wider engagement with non-traditional funding partners.

As Matthew Druckenmiller, President of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and Henry Burgess, its Former President (2022–2026), emphasised: “The long-term observations, infrastructure, and partnerships that underpin international polar research cannot be sustained through fragmented, short-term funding cycles.”

The Call to Action also identifies three cross-cutting priorities: recognising shared global responsibilities for the polar regions; establishing stronger connections between science, finance and international decision-making; and ensuring that equity and inclusion are embedded in the governance and development of polar initiatives.

AN OPEN INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE

To advance this collective effort, the Polar Initiative has opened a Call for Expressions of Interest, inviting organisations and individuals to identify which proposed flagship initiatives they could contribute.

Through this process, the Polar Initiative’s new Polar Programme Development Grant will support the development of emerging ideas into structured, coordinated and fundable international programmes.

Governments, research institutions, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, international institutions, funders, universities, civil society and relevant private-sector actors are encouraged to share their expertise, existing activities, capacities and resources to advance dialogue and cooperation.

With IPY5 approaching in 2032–2033, the Call to Action seeks to ensure that international polar cooperation moves beyond scientific observation alone, creating the conditions for research to inform policy, mobilise sustained resources and contribute to lasting environmental action.