Thawing Permafrost: Science, Policy, and Environmental Justice in the Arctic

Develop your understanding of permafrost

Currently, the Arctic is warming at more than three times the global rate. This rapid warming poses a serious threat not only to the people who live on this frozen ground, but also to our global climate.

On this four-week course, you’ll explore how permafrost – soil that stays continually frozen year-round – is now thawing in the Northern hemisphere due to rising Arctic temperatures.

You’ll increase your understanding of how this thawing land releases greenhouse gases that accelerate the warming process, posing major threats to the climate.

Discover the impacts of permafrost thaw on Arctic people, land, and infrastructure

You’ll learn about the implications of permafrost thaw for Arctic residents, ecosystems, land, and infrastructure.

Next, you’ll understand how to develop policy responses and support Indigenous-led adaptation frameworks that address permafrost thaw and respond equitably to this urgent climate hazard.

Explore how feedback loops impact the global climate

With an understanding of how permafrost thaw affects Northern communities, you’ll then delve into how permafrost carbon feedback loops impact the global climate.

This knowledge will help you justify why emissions from permafrost thaw should be included in global climate targets.

Learn from the experts at Woodwell Climate Center

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the specialists at Woodwell Climate Research Center, who work with a worldwide network of partners to help tackle climate change.

With their expertise, you’ll finish the course with the knowledge and skills to identify the threats of thawing permafrost, and how we can mitigate harm.

This course is designed for anyone with a general awareness of human-caused climate change.

It will also be of interest to policymakers, policy influencers, and advocates wanting to learn more about permafrost thaw.

• Introduction to permafrost
• Welcome to the course
• Permafrost: The basics
• Why is permafrost thawing?
• Concluding Week 1
• Impacts on people and the environment
• Welcome to Week 2
• Landscape and ecosystem impacts
• Threats to people and infrastructure: Alaska case study
• Concluding Week 2
• Permafrost and global climate
• Welcome to Week 3
• Global climate consequences
• Feedback loops
• Concluding Week 3
• Mitigation and adaptation policy
• Welcome to Week 4
• Global climate goals
• Policy responses
• Concluding Week 4