The 2026 Polar Symposium in Monaco put the scientific research in "act now" mode.
- M Abti
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Scientific research has already demonstrated on several occasions to overcome apparent geopolitical obstacles in times of crisis. Let's think about the role played by CERN during the Cold War, as an international neutral hub where scientists cooperated from opposing blocs, Western World and Soviet Union. We also think about the Apollo-Soyuz space mission in 1975 which represented a significant act of political detente between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Polar Initiative, launched in February 2022 by the will of Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, is addressed to encourage international scientific cooperation, support research and conservation project in the Arctic and Antarctic, by combining Indigenous and scientific knowledge.
The 2026 Polar Symposium “From Arctic to Antarctic”, held at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum from the 25th to the 27th February 2026 in partnership with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic
Science Committee (IASC), in collaboration with the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, Prince Albert I Foundation, assembled in the Principality leading scientists, representatives of international organisations, policymakers, indigenous representatives and members of civil society to address urgent interstate issues, under the joint name of “Enabling the Legacy: Translating Polar Research into Action”,
Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO at the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, pointed out at the opening session: « Conservation efforts, scientific research, and innovation in the Polar Regions entail a sacrifice but remain significantly underfunded.
We have to make sure that private and philanthropic actors step up because today only 10% of funding comes from these stakeholders. We must ensure that resources are deployed with maximum efficiency, supporting the most scalable, impactful and transformative initiatives. The ambition of this Symposium is for us to come together and identify the best pathways for a coordinated action ».
Panel discussions and workshops animated the three-day summit, as an integral part of the Polar Initiative, setting priorities within the governance in the Polar regions, in order to allocate reliable fundings to foster Research and Development and bridge the gap between Science and Policymaking.
In particular, the debate has developed through three axes where it becomes necessary to act promptly, notably:
• strengthening international scientific collaboration in times of uncertainty;
• developing innovative funding models;
• accelerating the translation of scientific findings into operational action.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, in His keynote speech, highlighted the mission and commitment of the Principality in advancing dialogue at the global level: « The challenges facing the Poles are systemic and accelerating as we all know. Our response must therefore be coordinated and ambitious in scale. This is particularly important as we look ahead the Fifth International Polar Year.
Monaco stands ready to contribute to this collective effort, through the Polar Initiative,
through our partnerships with the scientific community, and through the Polar Donor
Roundtable, we seek to help strengthen the continuum from science to funding, and
from funding to impact. Our ambition is clear, to ensure that the Polar Symposium is not only a forum for discussion but a catalyst for a coordinated and fundable action.
Polar regions test our ability to act together in the face of uncertainty. Let us seize this
momentum created here to deepen cooperation, to structure partnerships and to
prepare ambitious implementable initiatives for the years ahead ».
The participants in the various round tables drew the attention to the need to plan for the long term, while favouring coordinated actions with the involvement of all interested parties from local to global. As remarked by Henry Burgess, President of IASC, and Dr Cassandra Brooks, Chief Officer of SCAR’s Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System, the Polar Symposium represented a critical step towards the upcoming International Polar Year (2032-2033). The main mission is now to increase the degree of scientific knowledge of polar ecosystems, to be able to plan practical actions aimed at preserving their biodiversity through a system of regenerative financing.
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.
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