In lead up to its 35th anniversary in 2025, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) coordinates a multi-year planning process for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV), engaging Arctic researchers, Indigenous Peoples, policy-makers, residents and stakeholders from around the world. The process provided a platform to collegially discuss the state of Arctic science and the place the Arctic occupies in global affairs and systems, consider the most urgent knowledge gaps and research priorities, and explore avenues to address these research needs.
The first ICARP was convened in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, in 1995, implementing the IASC Founding Articles’ call for IASC to host such a conference periodically in order to “review the status of Arctic science, provide scientific and technical advice, and promote cooperation and links with other national and international organizations.” Since then, it has been the role of IASC to coordinate this important process every decade. ICARP II was held in Copenhagen in 2005 and developed twelve forward-looking science plans, resulting in several follow-up international projects and programmes, many within the framework of the International Polar Year 2007–2008. ICARP III was held in Toyama, Japan, in 2015 and provided a framework to further the development of cross-cutting, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary initiatives for advancing Arctic research cooperation and applications of Arctic knowledge. Its outcomes informed IASC’s strategic priorities during the following decade.
The ICARP IV process, initiated in 2022, included several phases of community engagement and culminated in the ICARP IV Summit, convened as part of the Arctic Science Summit Week 2025 in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The Summit was hosted by a consortium of US institutions, including the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Alaska Pacific University. ICARP I, II and III focused the attention of the world’s researchers on the value of strategic international coordination in accelerating progress towards addressing critical challenges. Building on this approach, ICARP IV brought together leading scientific, academic, environmental, Indigenous and policy organisations concerned with Arctic issues to identify shared priorities, strengthen collaboration and help shape the future direction of Arctic research.
Throughout the ICARP IV process, activities were closely planned and coordinated with other ongoing international initiatives. ICARP IV identified important research questions, knowledge gaps and priorities that cut across disciplines and knowledge systems and require new and innovative thinking and collaboration. The process developed recommendations and pathways for addressing these priorities, with the final outcomes presented in the ICARP IV Final Outcomes Report and the reports of seven Research Priority Teams, released during the Arctic Science Summit Week 2026 in Aarhus, Denmark. An integral aspect of ICARP IV was the inclusion and leadership of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the participation of early-career researchers, local residents and other members of the wider Arctic community in the development of priorities and approaches for future Arctic research.
The completion of the ICARP IV planning process marks the transition from priority-setting to implementation. Its outcomes will inform the development of the next IASC Strategic Plan for 2027–2036, support continued implementation activities within the international Arctic research community, and contribute to research planning for the Fifth International Polar Year in 2032–33.