Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013

The Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013 examines the interdependence of human societies and ecosystems in the Arctic, arguing that a resilience framework is essential for managing rapid, interacting changes. It highlights that while climate change is a key driver, social, political, and economic factors also profoundly impact the region's adaptive capacity. The report warns that abrupt environmental changes risk crossing thresholds with global consequences, such as sea ice loss and permafrost thaw. It further notes that past policy decisions have often eroded traditional indigenous safeguards of resilience, necessitating flexible, participatory governance to manage future uncertainties and conflicting priorities.

• The Arctic is experiencing rapid changes driven by a combination of climate change and social, political, and economic factors, such as globalization, geopolitical shifts, and increased demand for resources. These interacting stressors affect the wellbeing of both indigenous and non-indigenous populations.
• A resilience framework allows for the integration of social and ecological changes across different scales, helping to identify the risk of crossing thresholds that could lead to irreversible shifts or 'transformations' into new regimes.
• Abrupt and sometimes irreversible environmental changes have been observed across the Arctic, including the degradation of permafrost leading to the rapid draining of lakes and the loss of freshwater resources.
• Changes in the Arctic have global implications, specifically regarding the Earth's climatic regulatory systems. The loss of Arctic sea ice creates a positive warming feedback and is linked to extreme weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere, while thawing permafrost releases carbon dioxide and methane.
• Past interventions and policy decisions have compromised the adaptive capacity of Arctic indigenous peoples by eroding traditional resilience safeguards, such as nomadic lifestyles and diverse subsistence practices.
• Effective governance in the Arctic requires participatory processes to manage conflicting priorities and incorporate diverse forms of knowledge, as adaptive solutions for some may be maladaptive for others.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2013). Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-src-2013-arctic-resilience-report-summary.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013. 2013. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-src-2013-arctic-resilience-report-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013 |date=2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-src-2013-arctic-resilience-report-summary.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2013arctic, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Arctic Resilience Interim Report 2013}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-src-2013-arctic-resilience-report-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }