UNIS’ vision is “Arctic education and research for global challenges”. The most serious human challenge of this century is to drastically reduce amount the man-made CO₂ released into the atmosphere. Arctic warming is observed to be at a much faster rate than warming elsewhere on the planet. During the past 30 years, the average annual temperature has increased by 5⁰ Celsius on the west coast of Spitsbergen, and 7⁰ Celsius on the east coast. In comparison, the global average temperature has increased about 1⁰ Celsius during the past 100 years. The Arctic warming is drastic. Besides melting of the Pole and sea level rise, there is accumulation of contaminants due to long range transport. The effects of these changes on the ecosystem are unknown. If the Arctic continues to melt, the release of methane into the atmosphere will increase. Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂. 

A prerequisite for “sustainable living in the Arctic” is reducing global warming and limiting its effects. Sustainable development of the Arctic is not possible unless global action to become carbon neutral is successful. Failing is not an option. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute as much as possible, us included.

UNIS is training the next generation Arctic scientific experts. Every year, about 750 students from more than 40 countries take courses at UNIS. The learning outcomes are connected to global and Arctic climate scenarios, where relevant. In this way, UNIS is training “climate ambassadors” to communicate the urgency of actions to prevent Arctic melting.

The focus of the UNIS’ green strategy is to integrate sustainability in all our actions. Sustainable solutions invented and implemented at UNIS will be transferred worldwide via our professional collaboration networks and our highly international student community. Consequently, the sustainability impact of the UNIS’ green strategy may potentially migrate globally with the students.

Main objectives and profile

Combat climate change

UNIS’ operations generate a large CO₂ footprint. Consequently, there is great potential for improvement. UNIS will introduce a CO₂ calculator to quantify the emissions from all our activities. The total CO₂ equivalents averaged over the pre-Covid years 2018 and 2019 will be used as baseline. The aim is to cut total CO₂ emissions by 50% by 2030.

The biggest CO₂ contributor is heating the buildings. UNIS will become a key partner in research and innovation projects to support a safe and cost-efficient energy transition from coal to green energy solutions. The green energy solutions developed for Longyearbyen will also be applicable elsewhere in remote areas. The UNIS investments in green energy projects aim to have significant global impact.

UNIS will introduce an institutional travel policy to reduce business travel. Furthermore, we will design and advertise semester course packages to increase the attractiveness of full-semester stays for students.

Reducing the CO₂ footprint of research vessels, which is another sizable source of CO₂ emissions, is another priority. A working group will be established to analyse the “environmental cost-knowledge return” when planning research cruises.

Protect the natural environment and people

Using the surrounding nature as a laboratory and classroom is a major advantage for UNIS, and our research and education will continue to be field based.

By testing and operationalising innovative observation technologies, UNIS will improve its observation networks while reducing the negative environmental impact. Observational data will be documented and made publicly available. This is intended to increase collaboration, avoid duplication of field operations and simultaneously increase the global impact.

To document the negative impact on the natural environment, UNIS will track changes using a defined set of environmental parameters.Field planning tools and protocols will be developed and used for this purpose. UNIS will share protocols and procedures with the local authorities and businesses, including the tourism industry. Collaboration with SIOS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System) will increase the international impact.

Research will be targeted at finding solutions needed to tackle “new risk factors” derived from potential climate scenarios. UNIS will be a key partner in the development and testing of technology and safety solutions to reduce existing and future climate-driven safety risks and thereby contribute to climate adaptation.

Minimise the use of Earth’s limited resources

UNIS will thoroughly implement circular thinking in all our long-term planning and decisions: procurement of goods, food and canteen services, equipment and transport services, waste management, reuse and repair, etc.

UNIS wants to achieve: