We welcome enquiries from media. We will respond to your requests as quickly as possible and help you meet your deadlines with expert informed commentary on arctic issues.
Our experts
WWF Arctic has a broad range of expertise in arctic issues.
Climate Change
The Arctic is the leading indicator of global climate change - climate change impacts are felt first and worst here. Arctic Climate change impacts are a concern for the rest of the world because they accelerate global warming beyond projected rates. WWF has produced its own reports on climate change in the Arctic, and is constantly updating and synthesising the latest scientific information to produce user-friendly information on the implications of the science for policy and for people. For the latest on Arctic climate change.
Contact: Dr. Martin Sommerkorn, msommerkorn@wwf.no (English, German)
Polar bears/Arctic species
Several Arctic species are in peril, particularly those such as polar bears that depend on rapidly shrinking sea ice. WWF has its own resident experts on polar bears and other Arctic species. We don’t just talk about them, our experts are biologists who bring real depth of understanding to the issue.
Contacts: Geoff York geoff.york@wwfus.org (English) Tom Arnbom tom.arnbom@wwf.se (English, Swedish).
Immediate Threats
Retreating sea-ice is creating a range of problems in the Arctic environment: open water tempts ships to take short-cuts through poorly charted waterways, new ice-free areas open up new fisheries that fall outside of regional management arrangements, and increasingly, the world is turning its eyes to the north as one of the last untapped petroleum reservoirs. The convergence of human industry in the area raises significant conservation concerns - our immediate threats expert can explain how human activities in the Arctic can be managed without impacting this unique environment.
Contact: Dr Patrick N Lewis plewis@wwf.no (English)
Governance
As nations rush to secure their piece of the Arctic pie, WWF is advocating for strong regional governance rules, so that whatever future development occurs is sustainable. Our governance expert can help you navigate the reefs and shoals of international maritime law, and explain the problems and solutions in language an audience can understand.
Contact: Dr. Tatiana Saksina tsaksina@wwf.no (English, Russian).
Conservation & spatial planning
As climate change reshapes the Arctic environment, the ways in which we approach conservation and spatial planning must also change. WWF is leading a discussion on new approaches to conservation and spatial planning that will help arctic ecosystems and society to better face the challenges ahead. Our conservation planning officer is also knowledgeable on Arctic tourism issues.
Contact: Miriam Geitz mgeitz@wwf.no (English, German, Norwegian)
Overview
All of the threats to the Arctic, its environment, and its peoples, are linked. If you are looking for an overview of the threats, how they affect one another, and how they cross jurisdictions, and what solutions need to be applied, you need to speak to the director of the Arctic Programme.
Contact: Neil Hamilton nhamilton@wwf.no (English).
If you need a language or area of expertise not listed here, please contact our communications staff. They may be able to help locate someone within the WWF system.