WUR-POLAR (KB-57-003-003)

The polar regions are critical in the global climate system, where the current environmental changes have far-reaching impacts on sea levels, weather patterns, and biodiversity worldwide. Engaging in polar research is of strategic importance to understand the feedback loops between climate change, ecosystems resilience, and human interferences such as pollution. WUR researchers from various disciplines and science groups, across WU and WR, contribute to polar science. However, these efforts are fragmented, and a stronger internal WUR polar community is needed to strengthen our position in a field of research that will become even more important towards the future. Together with relevant (inter)national partners, we will identify critical and relevant knowledge gaps for Dutch polar research and design the necessary observation and polar research programmes focused on biodiversity and resilient ecosystems, climate change effects, and sustainable human activities. This will form an important step for the Netherlands in the preparations for the upcoming International Polar Year (2032-2033).