Documents

SCAR XXXIV WP13a: Report on AntClim²¹ (Antarctic Climate Change in the 21st Century)

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.2.5

Executive Summary:

Authors: Nancy Bertler and Thomas Bracegirdle

Important Issues or Factors: In 2016, AntarcticClimate²¹ has been in existence for four years and in accordance with the terms of reference, a review of the steering committee membership was carried out. In August 2016, Associate Prof. N. Bertler is stepping down as chair of AntarcticClimate²¹. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas Bracegirdle was unanimously elected by the steering committee to take up the role of the new chair of AntarcticClimate²¹. N. Bertler and T. Bracegirdle collaborate as co-chairs until the Delegates Meetings in Malaysia to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. John Turner is stepping down from his position as steering committee member and our aim is to replace him with another atmospheric scientist. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Turner John for his leadership, contributions, and mentorship. John brought a tremendous amount of experience and wisdom to our team provided critical input to create this SRP. All remaining steering committee members continue to serve on the steering committee to ensure successful completion. In addition, we aim to recruit at least one additional steering committee member, including an expert on sea ice.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: We kindly request the Delegates to note this update.

Budget Implications: $20,000 per annum.

SCAR XXXIV WP13b: AntClim²¹ External Review Report – Summary, Recommendations and Response

Authors: Nancy Bertler (Victoria University and GNS Science, New Zealand), Thomas Bracegirdle (British Antarctic Survey, UK), Alia Khan (University of Colorado, USA), Paul Mayewski (University of Maine, USA), Joellen Russell (University of Arizona, USA), John Turner (British Antarctic Survey, UK).

Overview:

The overarching question of this research initiative is: How will the Antarctic / Southern Ocean environment and ecosystem change over the 21st Century and beyond? To help answer this question, AntarcticClimate21 approaches this topic via two principle aspirations: to improve projections on how the Antarctic / Southern Ocean environment and ecosystem will change over 100-200 years; and to increase accessibility of model projection results to the wider science community. 

This paper summarises the deliverables and milestones, and future plans of AntarcticClimate²¹. Appendices include a Membership list.

SCAR XXXIV WP14a: Report on PAIS (Past Antarctic Ice Sheet Dynamics)

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.2.6

Executive Summary:

Authors: Tim Naish and Laura De Santis

Important Issues or Factors: This report covers activities and issues since the PAIS SRP External Performance Review. In the last few months, major highlights for the PAIS SRP include:

• The international Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) scheduled 2 new Antarctic margin drilling expeditions, P751 – West Antarctic Ice sheet and Climate History, led by Rob McKay (NZ) to be drilled in the Ross Sea in 2018 summer, and P839 Amundsen Sea West Antarctic Ice Sheet history, led by Karsten Gohl (Germany) to be drilling in 2019 summer. These are in addition to Expedition 373 – Antarctic Cenozoic Paleoclimate led by Trevor Williams (USA) to be drilled using a mission specific platform in 2018 summer. The carefully planned transect of expeditions around Antarctica has been nurtured and developed by PAIS, and the IODP were very impressed with the way in which the community had worked together strategically to come up with a strong scientific case to bring the drillship back to Antarctica for three legs in two consecutive seasons.
• Antarctic Drilling workshop held in College Station on May 9-11th 2016 with USSSP, MagellanPlus, ANZIC and PAIS funds. The aim was to review the science objectives of drilling proposals currently in the IODP review system. Identify geographic areas and age windows that can best provide insight into Antarctic ice sheets under warm climates. This was put in context of IODP science plan and the broader context (SCAR, IPCC). The workshop was attended by 84 participants (65 from USA, 15 from Europe, 4 from the rest of the world) among which there were 24 students and 8 early-career scientists. The workshop was influential in getting the above expeditions scheduled and is developing the case to bring the drillship back to Antarctica in 2020-2021 to achieve also proposal 732 that is now at the facility board and got the approval also from the safety panel.
• PAIS members, Rob DeConto has been awarded of the 2016 Tinker Muse Prize in Antarctic Science and Policy, and Rob Dunbar has been awarded the 201 6 SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research.
• Tim Naish and Rob DeConto were successfully nominated by SCAR and ICSU to attend a scoping meeting, in Geneva, 15th July, for the IPCC special report of limiting warming to 1.5°C, requested by the Paris Climate Accord. Of 17 nominations by ICSU, only SCAR’s nominations were successful.
• A PAIS conference has been announced for September 10th-16th in Trieste, Italy with the aim to present recent results that address still open questions in understanding the sensitivity of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and its contribution to past and future sea level and climate change.
• While a number of scientific highlights were reported in the Review, since then of note is a paper in Nature by DeConto and Pollard. This paper presents new projections of the Antarctic ice sheet contribution to future sea-level rise that elevate the IPCC projections for all Representative Concentration Pathways except RCP 2.6. The modelling was based on paleo data-model evaluation on past warm periods (e.g. Pliocene and Last Interglacial). This contribution from paleoclimate science has received an unprecedented level of media, public and scientific attention.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

The drilling ship the Joides Resolution, used by the IODP, is not an ice breaker and will need support from an ice breaker to secure its entrance and exit from the Ross Sea polynya in January-March 2018 and may need support in the Amundsen Sea continental shelf in January-March 2019. In the case of the Ross Sea and the Amundsen Sea, the ice breaker would not necessarily need to be close by the Joides Resolution for the entire length of the two drilling legs, but it will be needed for opening the passage and on standby for potential extraction. IODP have indicated that they would appreciate any ice breaker support SCAR COMNAP could provide. They have some budget for purchasing ice breaker support, but would also be looking for partnership with in kind support from another party.

SCAR EXCOM have endorsed a request to COMNAP to provide, in partnership with IODP, ice breaker support for the two scheduled PAIS-IODP expeditions to be drilled by the Joides Resolution in 2018 and 2019. Jeronimo Lopez will brief COMNAP at Goa meeting in August, 2016.

The long-term schedule indicates that the IODP drill ship will be back in the South Atlantic in 2020 with the potential to drill 732 on the peninsula and any other proposals that might be at the Facility Board for scheduling. It takes a minimum of 3 years to get a proposal to scheduling stage and there are a number of potential proposals in the Weddell and Scotia seas in the pipeline. This presents an unprecedented opportunity for the Antarctic community to have another 1 or 2 legs of scientific drilling in 2020-2021.

Research being conducted and co-ordinated under the PAIS umbrella is having a major impact on policy relevant climate change science through IPCC, and is gaining major support from the IODP. Especially as the Antarctic contribution to future sea-level rise is considered a number one research priority (e.g. as articulated in a recent NRC/NSF study for setting research priorities for NSF Antarctic program).

The purpose of the PAIS Trieste meeting is to identify future priorities for Antarctic paleoclimate research within the context of the SCAR Horizon Scan and the anticipated needs of the IPCC AR6 process, which is now getting underway. PAIS researchers are well placed to make a major contribution to both the publication of relevant science but also as co-authors. An important requirement is that the SCAR SRPs and non-SCAR communities develop closer linkages as climate change is a unifying theme that will have consequences for both biological and physical systems. PAIS is attempting to do this through its scientific programme and invitations to the Trieste meeting. AntClim21 is also doing this through a workshop being held in Kuala Lumpur after the SCAR OSC.

We recommend that SCAR continue to promote an interdisciplinary approach with how its research contributes to Antarctic and global climate change research and issues, ensuring SCAR umbrella research is well integrated into science that supports the ATS (e.g. CEP CAMMLR) and science that supports IPCC.

Budget Implications:

PAIS funds to support the following in the rest 2016:

• Support for scientists students to attend SCAR OSC
• Sponsorship of International Conference on Paleooceanography (Utrecht University) PAIS requires funds to support the following in 2017:

PAIS requires funds to support the following in 2017:

• Trieste conference, September
• Participation of PAIS members in IPCC scoping meetings and AR6
• Support for PAIS members and students to attend PAIS Trieste meeting
• Support for students and early career scientists to attend workshops and summer schools (e.g. Urbino SS in Paleoclimatology)
• Support for PAIS steering committee meetings at EGU and/or AGU.

PAIS is attempting to carry forward ~$15K of funds into 2017 for the Trieste meeting, and is looking at other sources of sponsorship. Nevertheless, the range of activities planned for 2017 is going to put pressure on our budget and we request any additional increase to the 2017 PAIS budget that SCAR can afford.

SCAR XXXIV WP14b: PAIS External Review Report – Summary, Recommendations and Response

Authors: C. Escutia, R. DeConto, T. Naish, L. De Santis

Overview:

The overarching goal of PAIS is to improve confidence in predictions of ice sheet and sea-level response to future climate change and ocean warming. For this, PAIS aims to improve understanding of the sensitivity of East, West, and Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheets to a broad range of climatic and oceanic conditions. 

This paper summarises the deliverables and milestones, and future plans of PAIS. Appendices include a Membership list.

SCAR XXXIV WP15a: Report on SERCE (Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryosphere Evolution)

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.2.7

Executive Summary:

Authors: Terry Wilson

Important Issues or Factors: Advances in planning for future SERCE workshops and training schools, for new interdisciplinary partnerships to address key Horizon Scan questions, and new SERCE leadership are outlined here, updating the 2016 SERCE SRP Review and Review Response documents.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Please note update from SERCE Review Document. Request approval of leadership change and approval of budget requests.

Budget Implications: SERCE requests that $21,5000 dollars from 2016 be carried forward to 2017 to support the Cryoseismology Training School scheduled for June, 2017; for 2017, requested budget allocation of $21,000 to the training school ($5,000) and for early-career participant support for the SERCE/IAG Workshop on Glacial Isostatic Adustment & Elastic Deformation ($16,000).

SCAR XXXIV WP15a: Report on SERCE (Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryosphere Evolution)

Author: Terry J. Wilson, Ohio State University, USA

Overview:

The Solid Earth Response and influence on Cryospheric Evolution (SERCE) scientific research programme aims to advance understanding of the interactions between the solid earth and the cryosphere to better constrain ice mass balance, ice dynamics and sea level change in a warming world. This overarching objective is being addressed through integrated analysis and incorporation of geological, geodetic and geophysical measurements into models of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) and ice sheet dynamics.

This paper summarises the deliverables and milestones, and future plans of PAIS. Appendices include a Membership list.

SCAR XXXIV SCAR XXXIV WP16: Report from the Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group (HASSEG)

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.3.1

Executive Summary:

Authors: Daniela Liggett, Elizabeth Leane

Important Issues or Factors:

Biennial conferences are held jointly with the History EG, as well as sessions in alternate years at the SCAR OSC. The executive committee was reviewed and streamlined. A commitment to capacity building and outreach are shown by the inclusion of an early-career researcher and IT/communications officer on the executive committee. Members of the group were involved in the SCAR Horizon Scan process and the Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) workshop.

The focus of the group expanded from its original ‘values’ project to look at questions around wilderness, culture and nationalism in relation to Antarctica, and to embrace a diverse range of projects among its membership. The group also launched a deliberate strategy to become more inclusive of the humanities, changing its name to include this field and appointing a new co-chair from within the humanities.

The group intends to continue working to achieve its aims through promotion of the polar social sciences and humanities network, the group’s own workshops and symposia, website and other channels, publishing research papers, collaboration with other groups, both inside and outside SCAR, and targeted research efforts addressing those questions generated by the first SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Horizon Scan that require social sciences and/or humanities input.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

1. We recommend that the Delegates agree to the establishment of a Humanities and Social Sciences SSG.
2. We also request that the Delegates continue to support HASSEG activities as proposed in this report to ensure the continued incorporation of a wide range of social sciences and humanities disciplines under the umbrella of SCAR, to further consolidate research activities in these fields as well as to foster collaborations across these disciplines and with the physical and biological sciences.

Budget Implications: For 2017/18, $4000 (plus funds carried over from 2016) for the HASSEG conference, plus $1000 for website development and maintenance.;

SCAR XXXIV WP17: Report from the History Group

Executive Summary:

Author: Cornelia Lüdecke

Important Issues or Factors:

Since 2013 biennial conferences of the History Expert Group are held jointly with the Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group (HASSEG) at Cambridge (GB) and Fort Collins (USA), as well as sessions in alternate years at the SCAR OSC at Auckland (New Zealand). The History group intends to continue its collaboration with HASSEG in workshops and SCAR OSC sessions, which have seen an increase in number and quality of scholars and output.

The leader of the group was involved in the SCAR Horizon Scan process. Three SCAR History EG members edited the book Antarctica and the humanities, currently in press (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016). In light of global developments that highlight the need for a cross-cutting integrated approach, recommendation 2 of the most recent review of SCAR’s structure and activities, ad increased bipolar collaboration, we are recommending that a Humanities and Social Sciences SSG be established. This also makes structural sense, enriching SCARs research portfolio through incorporating the humanities and social sciences (including history) in the SSG framework.

Recommendations:

1. We recommend that the Delegates consider establishing a Humanities and Social Sciences SSG in order to:
   • Address global developments that highlight cross-cutting integrated approaches to research
   • Improve opportunities for international collaboration, including with counterparts in the Arctic
   • Enhance SCARs research portfolio
2. In the event a Humanities and Social Sciences SSG is not established this year, we request that the Delegates continue to support the History EG activities as proposed in this report to:
   • Ensure continued networking and collaboration opportunities for members
   • Ensure continued collaboration with Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group

Actions:

1. The next History and the Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Groups conference will take place in Hobart, Tasmania (Australia) 5-7 July 2017.
2. We will, jointly with HASSEG, submit a session proposal to the tri-annual International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS), the premier conference of the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (Umeå, Sweden, 8-12 June 2017)
3. We are planning a session for the next SCAR/IASC OSC in Davos (Switzerland) in 2018.

Budget Implications:

An annual budget of US$ 5.000 (plus carry-over from 2016) will be primarily disbursed to subsidize travel to the EG’s annual meetings, benefitting the following groups:

• Early-career researchers
• Researchers from countries with limited funding opportunities

This will enable the broadest possible participation from junior scholars and scholars from developing countries with smaller Antarctic programmes.

SCAR XXXIV WP18a: The Southern Ocean Observing System

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.3.3

Executive Summary:

Authors: Louise Newman (Executive Officer), Anna Wåhlin (Phys Sciences Co-Chair), Oscar Schofield (Bio Sciences Co-Chair), Sebastiaan Swart (Phys Sciences Vice Chair), Andrew Constable (Bio Sciences Vice Chair)

Important Issues or Factors:

1. SOOS Progress and 5-Year Implementation Plan was externally reviewed
2. SOOS has developed 7 implementation working groups
3. An updated and restructured website was released
4. SOOS held its 5th Scientific Steering Committee meeting, 4rd Data Management Sub-Committee meeting, and a joint SOOS-SOCCOM scientific workshop
5. SOOS sponsors continued their support for the IPO
6. IMAS-UTas funding of the Executive Officer will end in August 2016. The Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiative for Antarctic Gateway Partnership (Project ID SR140300001), which currently funds the SOOS Data Officer, has agreed to support both the Executive Officer and Data Officer until mid-2018.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Jointly with SCOR, SCAR has provided financial support for the annual SSC meeting since 2011. This support is greatly appreciated by SOOS and is imperative to ensure participation of all international SSC members. SOOS requests that the SCAR support is continued for the 2017 SSC meeting (location TBA, likely EU). SOOS also invites the SCAR Executive Director to attend the 2017 meeting.

Budget Implications: SOOS requests 10,000 USD to support SSC members to attend the 2017 SSC meeting. SCAR is asked to support the SCAR Director to attend out of the central SCAR budget, not the 10,000 USD requested for SSC participation.

SCAR XXXIV WP18b: SOOS External Review Report

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.3.3

Overview:

The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) is an international initiative with the mission to facilitate the collection and delivery of essential observations on dynamics and change of Southern Ocean systems to all international stakeholders (researchers, governments, industries), through design, advocacy and implementation of cost-effective observing and data delivery systems. SOOS was established in 2011 and is sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), both interdisciplinary bodies of the International Council for Science (ICSU).

In an effort to help shape the direction of SOOS’ activities and to review its progress, SCAR and SCOR have facilitated a review of SOOS, mainly through its past achievements and the Implementation Plan released early in 2016. This review hopes to ensure that the SOOS strategy moves forward effectively and produces needed results, and also help to gauge the value of SOOS to the sponsoring organizations and identify areas for improvement.

SCAR XXXIV WP19: ICSU Union Members and SCAR

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.3.6

Executive Summary:

Author: J. Baeseman

Important Issues or Factors: The SCAR Secretariat has reached out to the ICSU Union members on several occasions over the past year to try to improve working relations. Several Unions agreed to participate by sharing a poster of their activities in the SCAR Activities Poster session during the Open Science Conference. In ICSU’s review of SCAR, more interaction was recommended.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: SCAR Delegates may want to consider encouraging a stronger interaction between the SCAR Secretariat and Union Secretariats as well as representatives of the Unions to SCAR to try to enhance communication and exchange.

Budget Implications: If SCAR would like to increase collaborations, it may be good to include a travel line for the Executive Director to attend the ICSU General Assemblies.

SCAR XXXIV WP20: Report on SCADM (Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management)

Presentation: Agenda Item 5.1

Executive Summary:

Authors: Anton P. Van de Putte with support from SCADM members

Important Issues or Factors: Since 2014, SCADM has defined a new set of priorities for 2014-2016. These include:

• providing data access through the Antarctic Data Management System (ADMS);
• promoting a distributed, interoperable network of accredited polar data centres; and
• data publication.

The level of participation of countries is highly variable and the request for contact points from national committees/delegates has had a limited response.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

• Increase the visibility of the Antarctic Master Directory (AMD) on the SCAR website and other media and fora.
• Relaunch the request for contact points to be provided by national committees/delegates.
• Improve collaboration with SCAR SRPs and external partners.

Budget Implications: SCADM is requesting $5000 a year, primarily to organize the annual meetings and to support SCADM members in attending these meetings. This budget is often used largely for the annual meetings (e.g. catering for the meeting, if this is not offered by the host). A budget increase ($2000) would allow dedicated funding for, e.g. a recurring data rescue grant sponsored by SCADM. Currently such grants are only possible on a biennial basis, depending on the spending for meeting logistics.

SCAR XXXIV WP21: Report on SCAGI (Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information)

Presentation: Agenda Item 5.2

Executive Summary:

Authors: Adrian Fox (British Antarctic Survey) and Jean-Yves Pirlot (IGN, Belgium), co-chairs

Introduction/ Background:

All work in Antarctica relies on a consistent geographic framework, and the main function of the Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information (SCAGI) is to manage and improve the geographic framework not only for Antarctic scientific research but also for other activities including operations, environmental management and tourism. SCAGI continues to deliver, and actively develop, a range of Geographic Information products through its various projects. These products include: the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica, the SCAR Antarctic Digital Database, the SCAR Map Catalogue and the Air Operations Planning Maps series. The usage statistics included in the report below show that these are active products that are used and valued by the Antarctic community.

SCAGI integrates topographic and names information received from national Antarctic programmes into the SCAR ADD and SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica. In keeping with Article III.1.c of the Treaty that Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available, SCAGI promotes an open standards approach to support free and unrestricted data access and develops the respective specifications.

Important Issues or Factors:

Most of the effort in SCAGI comes from a few committed members. To ensure maximum effectiveness for SCAR, SCAGI is focusing its limited resources on delivering the four main SCAR- SCAGI products: Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (CGA), Antarctic Digital Database (ADD), SCAR Map Catalogue (MapCat) and Air Operations Planning Maps series.

The SCAR products can only be as good as the data that are in them. It is critical for the continued relevance and utility of the SCAR-SCAGI products that SCAR members contribute all new maps, topographic data, and place-names information to the ADD, MapCat and CGA in a timely manner.

The SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica is a key product for SCAGI that is widely used by the Antarctic community (see usage statistics below). It has for many years been managed by Roberto Cervellati and Chiara Ramorino, of the Italian National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA). During 2015 responsibility for managing the CGA transferred to Prof Carlo Baroni, and Mrs Jaqueline Muller, University of Pisa. Our Italian colleagues collaborate closely with the Australian Antarctic Data Centre (Ursula Harris) for delivery of the CGA.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

Delegates should ensure that they are familiar with the work that SCAGI does and encourage their national representatives to become involved with and contribute all new data to SCAGI products. Delegates should ensure that retiring national representatives are replaced with a successor national representative and that the SCAGI co-Chairs are informed of this change.

The current contacts are listed at http://www.scar.org/scagi/scagi-members.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes:

Wider engagement by the Antarctic community would help SCAGI to continue to develop, and deliver effectively, reliable relevant Geographic Information Services to the Antarctic science and operations communities. Maintaining the position of SCAR as the source of Geographic Information Services such as the ADD and CGA supports the SCAR Strategic Plan objective of an international leadership role for SCAR.

Partners: SCADM, SCAR member countries, other organizations with an interest in Antarctic geographic Information such as COMNAP, CCAMLR, Antarctic Treaty System, IHO, NASA, Google, International Steering Committee for Global Mapping.

Budget Implications:

For the SCAR CGA and SCAR ADD to be improved, it requires that, either SCAGI members take on the necessary work or the work is outsourced. Continuation of $4k a year allocation.

SCAR XXXIV WP22: Report on Partnerships, MoUs and Other Agreements

Presentation: Agenda Item 6.1

Executive Summary:

Authors: J.Baeseman and several others

Important Issues or Factors: Over the past few years, increased interest in the polar regions has lead to increased activity by international organizations. SCAR partnerships are critical to keeping SCAR’s position as the leading science organization for Antarctica strong. SCAR has formal agreements with the following groups: APECS, IASC, IACS, IPA, EPB, and others. MoUs and other agreements can be viewed from the SCAR website. This paper summarizes recent developments with regards to SCAR partnerships and provides recommendations for ExCom consideration.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: A review of external relationships may be warranted given many changes in the Global Change landscape and leadership. The MoU with IASC will be renewed at the Open Science Conference. A decision should be made as to whether the Cryosphere Organizations MoU is needed.

Budget Implications: Co-sponsorship does involve some budgetary commitments. This is $2000 for CliC (as previous ) and $3000 for other co-sponsorships such as CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Implementation Panel (SORP), IPICS and ICED. SORP and IPICS have now been moved under the SSG-PS umbrella, so their budget line should be reflected to reflect this. The SOOS SSC is also jointly co-sponsored with SCOR to the sum of $10,000/year.

SCAR XXXIV WP23a: Report from SCATS (Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System) on General Activities

Presentation: Agenda Item 7.2

Executive Summary:

Author: Aleks Terauds (SC-ATS)

Important Issues or Factors: Since the last Delegates Meeting, the SCAR Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) continued to engage in a diverse range of international activities that enhanced SCARs reputation as a provider of independent and scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System and as a leader in Antarctic science. These activities have included active participation in two CEP/ATCM meetings, the development and participation in the Monaco Assessment meeting and associated outputs, the development of the Antarctic Conservation Strategy for the 21st Century, maintaining a key role in the Antarctic Environments Portal, and direct involvement in a diverse range of research projects.

Recommendations and Justification: SC-ATS continues to be a dynamic and productive Standing Committee that plays a fundamental role in SCAR’s mission to promote, facilitate, and deliver scientific excellence and evidence-based policy advice on globally significant issues that are relevant to Antarctica. On this basis we recommend that the Delegates note and approve of the actions to date, and support future initiatives.

Budget Implications: We ask that SC-ATS continues to be funded at $20K per annum + support for CEP/ATCM Travel.

SCAR XXXIV WP23b: Antarctic Environments Portal

Presentation: Agenda Item 7.2

Executive Summary:

Author: SCAR Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS)

Important Issues or Factors:

One of SCAR’s central mandates is to provide objective independent advice to Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. SCAR has fulfilled this role ever since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, and has provided the scientific underpinning for all of the international agreements that form part of the Antarctic Treaty System.

SCAR’s strategic plan seeks to continue this role of providing clear, evidence-based advice to the Antarctic Treaty System. The demand for such advice has never been greater. The changing nature of Antarctic climate and environments means there is an increasing need for wise, effective and timely policy and decision-making by the Antarctic Treaty Parties, which in turn, increases the demand for the provision of policy-ready scientific knowledge and information by SCAR.

SCAR’s Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) provides the direct link with meetings of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and its advisory Committee for Environmental Protection.

The Antarctic Environments Portal has been developed as a tool for facilitating the communication of scientific understanding in a policy-ready format to ensure that the Committee for Environmental Protection and the Antarctic Treaty Parties have the best knowledge available at their fingertips. The Portal is now operational, has been fully tested and has received the endorsement of the Antarctic Treaty Parties (Resolution 3 (2015) appended).

The Portal is currently funded by the Tinker Foundation and managed by the University of Canterbury, New Zealand until mid-2018. This paper seeks the support of the SCAR delegates for SCAR to take on the operational management of the Portal following the cessation of the Tinker funding in June 2018, dependent on a cost-neutral funding arrangement being found.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

The delegates are requested to approve action by the SCAR Secretariat (with the support of New Zealand colleagues) to explore cost-neutral options for SCAR to take over the operational management of the Portal after June 2018.

Budget Implications:

The intent would be for this outcome to be cost-neutral for SCAR and that any financial costs involved in SCAR taking over the operation of the Portal would be off-set through the acquisition of external funding and/or in-kind support.

SCAR XXXIV WP24: Report of the SCAR Delegation to XXXIX ATCM and XIX CEP

Presentation: Agenda Item 7.2

Executive Summary:

Authors: Aleks Terauds (SC-ATS), Jerónimo López-Martínez (SCAR President)

Important Issues or Factors:

SCAR submitted two Working Papers, six Information Papers and two Background Papers to CEP XIX, some of which were also presented to the ATCM. The WPs included the SCAR Code of Conduct for Activity in Terrestrial Geothermal Environments in Antarctica, which was endorsed by Resolution at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XXXIX. The SCAR Lecture, presented by SCAR President Jerónimo López-Martínez, was on ‘Exploring the future of scientific research in Antarctica’ and very well received. Leading up to the ATCM, SCAR also provided input to intersessional discussions, including the review of the CEP Non-native Species Manual. SCAR also attended the joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Workshop on Climate Change and Monitoring preceding CEP XIX and participated in the 25th Anniversary of the Protocol Symposium through a presentation by Aleks Terauds.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

We ask that the Delegates recognise the active involvement of SCAR in the CEP, ATCM and associated discussions and note the high regard with which SCAR, and the advice that it provides, is held by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties. SC-ATS will continue to coordinate and facilitate the agreements and commitments made at the most recent meetings, and asks that the Delegates continue to support these activities.

Budget Implications:

To continue to carry out these activities, and complete our ongoing agreements and commitments, we ask that SC-ATS funding is maintained at $20K per annum + support for CEP/ATCM Travel.

SCAR XXXIV WP25: Climate Change Communications Report

Presentation: Agenda Item 7.3

Executive Summary:

Author: E. Griffin

Important Issues or Factors:

Following the publication of the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) report in 2009, SCAR has participated in several United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meetings to present its climate change science, including the major update to the ACCE report published in 2013 and at the recent Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 meeting in Paris. Annual updates from the ACCE group are presented as papers to the ATCM. Members and ATCM Treaty parties have expressed interest in more policy focussed output to be generated. Closer engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) process has been evident recently and SCAR should build on the momentum generated. In particular, the 2 upcoming IPCC Special Reports will have key Antarctic input. This paper will outline a strategy to combine both internal SCAR annual reports and the context of longer term reports and meetings from external bodies to maximise the impact of SCAR Climate Change science.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

Delegates are asked to authorise the Secretariat to plan and support a more coordinated approach to policy relevant climate change communications through production of policy relevant summaries of specific outputs (particularly the ACCE annual update) and active management of the relevant budget lines to support participation at meetings. The intention would be to target the most effective promotion of Antarctic Climate Change science over the known timeline to the publication of the next IPCC Assessment Report.

Budget Implications:

Annual budget line of $1,000 to support production of policy relevant “one-pager” from the ACCE update. Default carry forwards to be agreed on ACCE and IPCC observer budget lines. Carry forwards would be limited to a set termination at a targeted post-Assessment Report 6 release meeting, which would likely be following UNFCCC COP meeting.

SCAR XXXIV WP26: Capacity Building, Education and Training (CBET), including Future Plans

Presentation: Agenda Item 8.4

Executive Summary:

Authors: E Griffin, K Lochte, and J Baeseman

Important Issues or Factors: The CBET Committee will be reconstituted following an internal review and the recommendations of the Structure Review with an emphasis on a smaller core Committee with specific roles.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Continued support of both SCAR and CBET activities should be encouraged by all SCAR members to achieve the objectives.

SCAR XXXIV WP27: SCAR Communication Activities

Executive Summary:

Authors: Jenny Baeseman and Rosemary Nash

Important Issues or Factors: In this paper we provide an overview of the various forms of communication used by the Secretariat and ask Delegates to consider lending expertise to help further develop these efforts, particularly as much of the new Strategic Plan deals with enhanced communication techniques and tools.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Delegates are asked to discuss with their national committees and colleagues if assistance for communication activities could be contributed in kind, or if a special contribution could be made to help further develop this area within SCAR. Delegates are asked to review the current communication activities and proposed future plans , and provide suggestions/advice to the Secretariat. SCAR officers and chairs are asked to submit meeting reports to the Secretariat for inclusion in a revitalised SCAR Reports series. If National Committees have reports on activities that they would like to share with the SCAR community (in any language) through this series, they should be sent to the Secretariat. Delegates are asked to take note of the new online newsletter format and send suggestions and potential content ideas to the Secretariat. Delegates are asked to provide a mandate for an ad hoc committee to be created, to propose a SCAR Communication Strategy to meet the needs of the community and address the points in the new Strategic Plan.

Budget Implications: A budget line of $2000 should be added to the General expenses line to contact website experts when needed, and $500 for purchase of website extensions for various features. An increase of $1000 should be added to the Telephone communications line to include the online meeting software. If Delegates wish for SCAR to develop a Communications Strategy, a budget line for a workshop of experts and users is requested, unless there is a host who would like to cover expenses for such a workshop, including travel.