Open Announcement & News overview

GTN-P at the Arctic Frontiers Conference 2026

For the 2026 Arctic Frontiers Conference, policy-makers, scientists, business leaders, and indigenous representatives from nearly 40 countries met in Tromsø, Norway, from 2-5 February 2026. Under the theme “Turn of the Tide”, participants discussed Arctic collaboration, economic transitions, and the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region. As in previous years, Arctic Frontiers provided a platform for dialogue across sectors, linking scientific perspectives with policy and industry discussions.

During the first science session, “Monitoring, Modeling, and Mitigating the Consequences of Arctic Permafrost Change”, the GTN-P Data Platform was introduced to the research community. The presentation outlined the network’s mission, structure, and international engagement, presented the different components of the Data Platform, and offered an outlook on future activities. Session chair and GTN-P Advisory Board member Hanne Christiansen referred to the launch of the GTN-P Data Platform as a timely and relevant step for the permafrost research community, acknowledging its potential to strengthen data accessibility and collaboration.

The importance of long-term monitoring in the Arctic as a fundamental basis for understanding environmental change was highlighted by this year’s Mohn Prize laureate John Smol. During the Mohn Prize panel debate, he quoted Euan Nisbet: “Monitoring is science's Cinderella, unloved and poorly paid,” underscoring the structural challenges often faced by sustained observation efforts. He encouraged the scientific community to maintain in-situ environmental measurements despite often demanding conditions. The discussion served as a timely reminder of the value of coordinated monitoring efforts and robust data infrastructure, such as the GTN-P Data Platform.

The conference program is available online:
Arctic Frontiers program (2-5 February 2026, Tromsø, Norway)