Mission
The goal of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) is to evaluate and synthesize knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequences. The aim is to provide useful and reliable information to the governments, organizations and peoples of the Arctic on policy options to meet such changes. Climate variability and change, and more recently, notable increases in UV radiation, have become important issues in the Arctic over the past few decades. The ACIA examines possible future impacts on the environment and its living resources, on human health, and on buildings, roads and other infrastructure. This assessment is expected to lead to the development of fundamental and useful information for the nations of the Arctic region, their economy, resources, and peoples.
The assessment process has been open and transparent, and the review of its conclusions has been intended to be credible and rigorous; also, the degree of uncertainty of the conclusions has been made clear. Three major volumes have been completed; they are a peer-reviewed scientific volume, a synthesis document summarizing results, and a policy document providing recommendations for coping and adaptation measures. Other products available, include a highlights brochure, 20 minute DVD and downloadable graphics. The production of these documents was done by lead and contributing authors guided by an Assessment Steering Committee (ASC) with representatives from AMAP (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program), CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna) and IASC (International Arctic Science Committee), as well as persons representing the Arctic indigenous peoples.
The USA was the lead country for this effort and representatives from NSF (National Science Foundation) and NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) are also members of the ASC. Its chairman is Dr. Robert Corell from the USA and the Vice-Chair is Dr. Pål Prestrud from Norway. An ACIA Secretariat has been established at the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and funds for it are provided by both NSF and NOAA. Additional contributions to the ACIA came from other Arctic countries. Close ties were maintained with the group conducting a similar regional assessment as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) but the ACIA provided considerably more detail on the expected impacts.