Feedback sought on Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research Directions and Priorities

Consultation opens today (19 July) on Aotearoa New Zealand’s directions and priorities for Antarctic research for the decade ahead.

The draft document has a vision for excellent and impactful science that addresses the urgent need to understand the role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in global systems, under the unifying theme of global change.

It identifies the Antarctic and Southern Ocean research priorities that require investment over the next decade.

The draft Aotearoa New Zealand Antarctic and Southern Ocean Research Directions and Priorities 2021–2030 builds on the existing Directions and Priorities.

It sets out that New Zealand’s Antarctic research will have impact, be excellent, and make connections; advance New Zealand’s formal Commitment to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean; recognise and reflect the value of mātauranga Māori; and contribute to New Zealand’s climate change, Antarctic and environmental policies.

The priority areas for research are sea level rise, ice-ocean-atmosphere connections, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental protection.

Anyone with an interest is encouraged to provide feedback, which will contribute to the final Directions and Priorities, to be finalised later this year.

The consultation runs between 19 July and 16 August 2021.

Feedback is invited by email to: AntarcticaScience@mfat.govt.nz

For more information, please contact media@mfat.govt.nz

Click here to read the Aotearoa NZ Antarctic and Southern Ocean Directions and Priorities draft for public consultation July 2021