The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of October 26, 2026
Study Finds that Arctic Contains Three Climate Zones
Earth.com reported on October 27 that a study led by researchers from the University of Helsinki identified three distinct atmospheric zones across the Arctic, each responding differently to climate change. The research is based on over 20 years of aerosol measurements across eight different Arctic monitoring stations combined with satellite data. The findings point to differing concentrations of cloud-forming particles across the High Arctic, Maritime Arctic, and Continental Arctic respectively. (Earth.com)
Take 1: The study’s identification of three separate aerosol regimes in the Arctic is a critical new development in how scientists will understand the High North and the changes to its climate. The findings point to how warming could potentially increase the concentrations of cloud-forming particles in the High Arctic, while simultaneously reducing them across the Maritime Arctic. The Continental Arctic, conversely, is more impacted by pollution and the emissions of wildfires in lower latitudes. Aerosols impact the formation of clouds, and Arctic clouds often both reflect incoming sunlight and retain the heat trapped below them. If these processes are considered uniform across the Arctic region, certain feedback loops could be overlooked that result in amplification or moderation of warming across different areas. Nonetheless, these findings do not offer a clear forecast of regional warming. Rather, they point to a critical source of uncertainty for climate models. More broadly, this study also strengthens the point that there is not just one Arctic, not only in terms of infrastructure or economic reality, but also in terms of climate change.. For scientists and policymakers, recognizing that there is more than one Arctic should lead to different, more tailored strategies for, among others, coastal protection and environmental management, while recognizing that emissions in lower latitudes affect conditions in the High North. (Earth.com, Nature, Springer Nature)
Inuit and Sámi Advocate for Stronger Indigenous Participation in Global Biodiversity Governance at COP 17
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on October 27, Inuit and Sámi representatives at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 17) in Armenia called for stronger involvement of Indigenous peoples in global biodiversity decision-making. They urged governments to ensure that a new permanent Subsidiary Body established at COP16 safeguards traditional knowledge, preserves existing arrangements for Indigenous representation, and recognizes Indigenous peoples as distinct rights holders rather than grouping them with local communities. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 2: As one of the outcomes of COP16 in 2024, a permanent Subsidiary Body was created with the aim of actively involving Indigenous peoples in all processes related to the Biodiversity Convention. While this was a critical milestone, creating such a body does not automatically translate to meaningful involvement. Meaningful Indigenous participation has been a continuous issue in environmental governance. Indigenous peoples are recognized as vital for the protection of biodiversity, yet they continue to have limited institutional influence. Biodiversity priorities and targets are especially impactful for Arctic Indigenous peoples. The unique ecosystems of the High North, wildlife populations, and the constantly changing Arctic environment pose great challenges to Indigenous communities. In the Arctic, biodiversity protection also increasingly intersects with mining, infrastructure development, and energy projects, which affect Indigenous livelihoods such as reindeer herding, hunting, and fishing. Moreover, certain conservation measures can restrict access to traditional lands and waters without Indigenous consent. Representation is thus not the only issue at hand. Beyond stakeholders, Indigenous peoples are first and foremost rights holders. In the context of Arctic governance, Indigenous peoples are formally represented in the Arctic Council, where their role as Permanent Participants involves full consultation rights, even though decision-making remains a state authority. This offers a relevant, yet imperfect, precedent and such a structure could perhaps provide a basis for more institutionalized Indigenous participation in global biodiversity discussions as well. (Eye on the Arctic, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, Inuit Circumpolar Council)
China Uses Arctic Expedition to Trial Satellite Communication System
High North News shared on October 27 that China has successfully tested its domestically developed Guowang satellite internet system, connecting three research vessels with the Qinling research station based in Antarctica. Over the course of the trial, a total of 40 video calls were made, transmitting over 100 gigabytes of data. Other than videocalls, the test made it possible to conduct remote medical consultations, transmit oceanographic data, and support sea ice forecasting services. (High North News)
Take 3: China has been growing its presence in the Arctic, and developing reliable communication infrastructure has become part of its endeavors. Reliable satellite connections can reduce the isolation of polar expeditions, allow for faster transmission of scientific data, enable remote medical support, and allow for more effective forecasting of ice conditions. China’s Guowang system, a domestically developed alternative to Starlink, allows China to operate in the Arctic without dependence on Western satellite providers. This technological independence grants China greater control over its sensitive data and is also of particular relevance to China’s ambitions along the Northern Sea Route. Russia regulates shipping along the route, but China is providing the investment, vessels, and technological capabilities. A strong satellite communications system would further strengthen its position within the Russia-China partnership in the Arctic. There is also an expanding overlap between civilian and security capabilities, or dual-use capacities. Satellite communications and oceanographic data are important for scientific research, but also serve military and intelligence purposes. In the summer of 2025, for instance, five Chinese research vessels were spotted near Alaska, raising questions about the use of oceanographic data collection near the territory of an adversarial state. While the trial of the Guowang system in and of itself provides no evidence of military use, China’s expanding technical capabilities in the High North deserve some scrutiny. (High North News, RAND, Small Wars Journal)
Canadian and EU Leaders Discuss Arctic Cooperation at Summit in Montreal
As reported by Eye on the Arctic on October 28, Arctic cooperation is a key topic at the October 29-30 EU-Canada Summit in Montreal, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. The discussions come as the EU seeks to strengthen its partnership with Canada through its proposed Alliance for the Future, which identifies Arctic collaboration on critical minerals, ocean monitoring, and climate research as areas of shared interest. A joint statement is expected on October 30. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 4: Canada and the EU are moving ever closer to one another in Arctic cooperation. The EU’s recently released Arctic strategy mentions Canada as part of its envisioned Northern Neighbourhood framework and has identified a set of joint cooperation opportunities in areas including connectivity, critical raw materials, space cooperation, and climate action. Beyond these concrete projects, the EU-Canada partnership also holds importance on a geopolitical level. As the Arctic is increasingly involved in great power competition, cooperation between two likeminded actors could contribute to a stronger rules-based regional order and limit the impact of external pressures. Strengthening EU-Canada Arctic cooperation therefore provides a way to balance against more hostile actors in the High North. More concretely for the EU, closer ties with Canada in the Arctic would significantly expand its political reach in the region. The EU has long been a more peripheral actor in the Arctic and has mainly kept Arctic affairs as a prerogative for its northern member states. With its updated Arctic policy, however, the EU is signaling its readiness to build a stronger presence in the Arctic. For Canada, on the other hand, the partnership provides a welcome opportunity to diversify its diplomatic and economic ties. Its only neighbor has become increasingly hostile, also in the Arctic. Strengthening ties with the EU thus offers Canada a way to reduce its dependence on the United States and broaden its room for diplomatic maneuver while reinforcing its position as an influential Arctic state. (Euronews, Eye on the Arctic, Clingendael Institute)
New Airport in Ilulissat Opens its Doors
Arctic Today announced on October 29 that a new international airport opened in Ilulissat, Greenland. Denmark supported the development of the airport project, alongside the other airports recently inaugurated elsewhere on the island. Ilulissat’s new airport houses a 2,200-meter runway equipped to handle jet aircraft. (Arctic Today)
Take 5: In Greenland, as is much of the Arctic, settlements are separated by vast distances and rough terrain, with limited transport connections. As such, reliable air transport is crucial for supplying goods and food, medical evacuations, public services, and ensuring the mobility of citizens. Greenland has been actively investing in its air connections, with two other new airports already established in Nuuk and Qaqortoq since 2024. The opening of the new airport in Ilulissat marks the completion of Greenland’s planned airport expansion projects, although construction delays pushed its inauguration back by two years. The new airports significantly reduced the dependence on a single, central international gateway and have brought new routes for freight, emergency operations, and passengers. They also pave the way for more revenue from tourism, which could substantially boost the local Greenlandic economy. Businesses and public services also benefit from these developments, rendering travel and connections to different hubs across Greenland more convenient. Despite increased options, travel to Greenland is often impacted by harsh weather conditions and construction is often faced with unique engineering challenges, which complicates long-term maintenance. As such, contingency planning and emergency-response systems are all the more crucial for these new hubs. (Arctic Today, Infrastructure Brief, Monocle)