Why it matters
What happens at the poles affects everyone
Rapid change in the Arctic and Antarctic will profoundly shape the future of the rest of the world. The Fifth International Polar Year will bring countries, disciplines, sectors and knowledge systems together to generate the knowledge, partnerships, resilience and capacity needed to understand and respond to these changes.
2032–33
The main implementation period for the Fifth International Polar Year.
Global
Polar change influences climate, sea levels, food systems, water security, biodiversity, economies and human well-being worldwide.
Together
IPY-5 will unite countries, disciplines, sectors, communities and diverse knowledge systems in a coordinated global effort.
A changing planet needs coordinated polar knowledge
The polar regions are experiencing some of the most rapid and far-reaching environmental changes on Earth. They regulate the Earth's climate, oceans, water cycle and ecosystems, while influencing the prosperity, security and well-being of societies around the globe.
Changes underway in the Arctic and Antarctic are already influencing sea-level rise, water security, food systems, biodiversity, infrastructure, economic development and human well-being. At the same time, major uncertainties remain regarding future impacts, risks and opportunities. Addressing these uncertainties is a critical scientific and societal challenge.
Polar change has global consequences
Changes in the polar regions influence climate, sea levels, weather, ecosystems, economies and societies around the world. Understanding these interconnected systems is essential for informed planning, preparedness and decision-making.
Diverse knowledge systems are essential
Indigenous Peoples' knowledge systems, observations and lived experience provide essential insights into environmental change, adaptation and societal well-being. IPY-5 will support equitable partnerships and new approaches to knowledge co-production.
No nation can do this alone
The processes shaping our future transcend national boundaries. International collaboration allows countries to share observations, expertise, infrastructure and investment, enabling advances that no single nation, institution or discipline could achieve alone.
Why IPY-5 is needed now
As polar change accelerates, the Arctic and Antarctic are becoming increasingly important to understanding and managing global risk. IPY-5 will mobilise the world's scientific, technological and knowledge capabilities to generate trusted, internationally coordinated knowledge that supports adaptation, preparedness, sustainable development and more resilient societies.
A transformational opportunity
Advances in artificial intelligence, satellite technology, autonomous observing systems, modelling and digital infrastructure create an unprecedented opportunity to transform our understanding of the Earth system.
By combining innovation with sustained observations and international cooperation, IPY-5 can help answer questions that were previously beyond our reach and provide the scientific intelligence needed for decisions at local, national and global scales.
Building a lasting legacy
The success of IPY-5 will not be measured by a single discovery. Its lasting impact will be reflected in strengthened observing systems, international partnerships, scientific capacity and trusted information that continue to support adaptation, risk reduction and sustainable development long after the field campaigns have ended.
Explore the wider IPY-5 context
A crucial new phase
Learn how IPY-5 builds on previous International Polar Years and why a new period of global polar cooperation is needed.
Read moreMission and objectives
Explore how IPY-5 will advance global science, transform knowledge, strengthen international cooperation, connect diverse knowledge systems and build long-term resilience.
View mission and objectivesGet involved in IPY-5
The success of IPY-5 depends on broad and equitable international participation. Researchers, Indigenous Peoples and organisations, governments, educators, early career professionals, funders, industry, communities and other partners all have a role to play in this global effort.
Find out how to get involved