Advancing fair and equitable strategies to address Arctic warming.
Permafrost Pathways was launched in 2022 with funding through the TED Audacious Project—a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing big, bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. Through a joint effort between Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School, and the Alaska Institute for Justice, Permafrost Pathways brings together leading experts in climate science, policy action, and environmental justice to inform and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to address permafrost thaw.
Connecting science, people, and policy.
Permafrost Pathways is a collaborative effort that harnesses the combined expertise of leading research institutions and on-the-ground organizations. By bringing together leaders in climate science, policy, and environmental justice, Permafrost Pathways is able to develop the comprehensive strategies needed to address the impacts of permafrost thaw.
Decades of experience and expertise.
Permafrost Pathways engages a diverse and extensive network of scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, policymakers and practitioners. Our project leads bring a unique blend of experience and expertise—conducting Arctic research, working with impacted communities, convening stakeholders and policymakers—to guide this endeavor.
Meet our team:
The land where we work
As a project of Woodwell Climate Research Center, we acknowledge our campus is located on the traditional and sacred land of the Wampanoag people who still occupy this land, and whose history, language, traditional ways of life, and culture continue to influence this vibrant community.
Our research endeavors occur on Northern areas across the circumpolar Arctic, where Indigenous Peoples, such as the Yup’ik, Athabaskan cultures, Iñupiat, Alutiiq, Gwich’in, Inuit, Inuvialuit, Saami, Nenets, Khanty, Mansi, Evenk, Chukchi, and Kalaallit, have lived for time immemorial.
We recognize the harm that western science and southern settlers have caused and continue to cause as part of colonization, extractivism, and erasure of Indigenous Peoples. We are constantly trying to conduct research in more equitable ways. We value people, Indigenous knowledge, and Indigenous sovereignty.