The Range States Communications Working Group has been tasked with all Circumpolar Action Plan (CAP) operations related to communications activities, from developing the Range States website to communication materials such as educational resources related to polar bear biology, status and conservation.
Over the course of the first 2-year CAP Implementation Plan (2015-2017), the Communications Working Group developed a Range States Communications Plan that included regular information updates about the outcomes of the CAP to the Range States. This communications plan contains a strategy on climate change in order to bring global focus to the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears, as well as the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions.
During the period of the second 2-year Implementation Plan (2018-2020) the Communications Working Group continued to communicate the work being done by the Range States to implement the CAP, and to communicate to the public, policy makers, and legislators around the world the importance of mitigating GHG emissions to polar bear conservation.
Communications actions
Circumpolar Action Plan; 2020-2023 Implementation Plan:
CAP 2020-2023 Implementation Plan:
Objective 2, 2020-2023 Implementation Plan
Objective 2 Actions:
CCC - A2 - Develop a climate change communications plan that outlines key messages (e.g., how climate change effects vary among subpopulations on both temporal and spatial scales, impacts to prey and denning habitat) regarding the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears from climate change and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions
CCC - A3 - Identify strategic communications opportunities for the Range States to provide information regarding the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears from climate change and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions
CCC - A5 - Enter into climate change communications partnerships with organizations that have targeted audiences and strong public reach
Circumpolar Action Plan; 2023-2025 Implementation Plan:
CAP 2023-2025 Implementation Plan:
Objective 2, 2023-2025 Implementation Plan
Objective 2 Actions:
CCC-A4 - Post and maintain key information related to the Climate Change Communications Strategy on the Polar Bear Range States website.
CCC-A5 - Enter into climate change communications partnerships with organizations that have targeted audiences and strong public reach
CCC-A6 - Communicate key messages to the public.
Objective 3, 2020-2023 Implementation Plan
Objective 3 Actions:
EH - A7 - Develop messages about the importance of conserving essential habitat
Other Communications actions:
Communications Group
Communications Operating Team (COT):
Contacts:
Andreas B. Schei (Norway; Norwegian Environment Agency)
Sofie Abelsen (Greenland; Ministry of Fisheries and Hunting)
Stanislav Belikov (Russian Federation; Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection)
Angelina Gnedenko (Russian Federation; Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection)
ad hoc Climate Change Communications Working Group (CCCWG):
Range State members:
Contact: Andreas B. Schei (Norway; Norwegian Environment Agency; ad hoc CCCWG Co-lead)
Lauren Schmuck (Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; ad hoc CCCWG Co-lead)
Lindsey Mangipane (United States; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Sofie Abelsen (Greenland; Ministry of Fisheries and Hunting)
Stanislav Belikov (Russian Federation; Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection)
Angelina Gnedenko (Russian Federation; Russian Research Institute for Nature Protection)
Invited specialists:
Andrea Norgren (World Wildlife Fund - Arctic Programme)
Emily Ringer (Polar Bear Specialist Group and Polar Bears International, USA)
Kristin Laidre (University of Washington, USA)
Larry Carpenter (Wildlife Management Advisory Council, Northwest Territories, Canada) - To be confirmed
Lisa Lidgus (Saint Louis Zoo, USA)
Magnus Andreasen (Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway) - To be confirmed
Melanie Lancaster (World Wildlife Fund - Arctic Programme, Sweden)
Melanie Virtue (Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, USA) - To be confirmed
Nicole Whittington-Evans (Defenders of Wildlife, USA) - To be confirmed
Paul Irngaut (Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Nunavut, Canada) - To be confirmed
Vacant (Alaska Nannut Co-Management Council) - To be confirmed