An integrated system of observations driven by societal benefit

Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) and its committees have emerged as a vital regional facilitator for advancing sustained investments in Arctic observing and data management across a partnership of Arctic and non-Arctic countries, regional and global organizations, including those of Arctic Indigenous Peoples. The lack of a consistent, equitable and holistic planning mechanism has hampered efforts to strategically improve these systems. In response, SAON set forth a vision in its 2018-2028 strategic plan to develop a Roadmap for Arctic Observing and Data Systems (ROADS) to address this systemic shortcoming and improve linkages across independently funded efforts. ROADS will address this short-coming through generating a systems-level view of observing and data system impacts, requirements and implementation strategies under its Roadmap and engaging a diverse and inclusive group of actors to deliver it. A critical success factor for ROADS is the equitable inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the design and development process, which presents specific challenges. These challenges include differing world views of knowledge systems and historical and current inequities that have limited the degree to which Indigenous communities and organizations can make their voices heard or support the human capacity required to engage in planning. ROADS is embedding strategies to address these challenges, particularly focused on funding Indigenous expertise.

 

ROADS is both a holistic concept, building from the societal benefit-based approach of the International Arctic Observing Assessment Framework, and one that can proceed step-wise so that the most imperative Arctic observing elements can be rapidly improved and accessed through interoperable data systems. The concept of Shared Arctic Variables (SAVs) occupies a central place in the ROADS planning process (Fig. 1). SAVs are linked to the essential variable strategies of broader global networks (e.g. Global Ocean Observing System, Global Atmospheric Watch), and through an emphasis on broadly shared societal benefit, extend their definitions in support of Indigenous-led benefit and regionally identified science and decision-making needs. Guided by a principle of benefit sharing, the ROADS process is designed to engage diverse partnerships of experts across sectors in support of integrated Arctic observing and data system development