Policy

OCEAN ICE actively supports policy-relevant decision-making by engaging directly with European and international policy processes. This page supports informed decision-making by providing policy-relevant scientific evidence generated by OCEAN ICE, with the aim of strengthening climate resilience, long-term planning, and public understanding of the consequences of short-term climate (in)action. OCEAN ICE contributes to high-level international policy and science–policy discussions on polar research and the role of polar regions in the global climate system. 

Who is this page for? 

This page is intended for policymakers and decision-makers engaged in climate, ocean, and cryosphere policy at local, regional, European, and international levels involved in long-term climate risk assessment, adaptation planning, and evidence-based policy development related to sea-level rise, ice-sheet dynamics, ocean–climate interactions, climate tipping points, ocean circulation change, particularly across decadal to multi-centennial timescales, and their implications for society and ecosystems. 

More specifically, this page addresses: 

  • Policymakers, decision-makers, advisors, public authorities at local, regional, national, and multinational levels, including European institutions and bodies responsible for climate adaptation, environmental protection, ocean governance, and long-term resilience planning. 
  • Staff and representatives of European and international institutions and initiatives working at the science–policy interface, including those contributing to climate and ocean observing systems, international climate assessments, and major policy frameworks (e.g., European Ocean Pact, EU Ocean Policy, the European Green Deal, IPCC, World Ocean Assessment, and UN climate and ocean processes). 
  • Stakeholders engaged in transnational and international cooperation, including multinational ocean observing initiatives, polar research coordination, and climate diplomacy. 
  • The wider public and civil society, including communities. 

What does OCEAN ICE offer? 

OCEAN ICE provides robust, policy-relevant scientific evidence on climate change, sea-level rise, and long-term risk planning. Specifically, we offer: 

  • Improved projections and reduced uncertainty in key climate metrics of direct relevance to policy, including sea-level rise, ice-sheet stability, and ocean circulation change, across decadal to multi-centennial timescales. 
  • Risk-based assessments of climate tipping points, including the potential for rapid ice-sheet melt to trigger non-linear responses in the climate system, such as changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). 
  • Long-term planning horizons beyond 2100, extending assessments to 2300 and beyond, enabling policymakers to better understand “locked-in” climate change and the long-term consequences of short-term policy choices. 
  • Open and transparent access to high-quality data and knowledge, delivered through established European and international data infrastructures and aligned with FAIR and INSPIRE principles.