Polar Bears International

Polar Bears International’s mission is to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on. We also work to inspire people to care about the Arctic, the threats to its future, and the connection of this remote region with our global climate.

As a science-based organization with staff including world-renowned polar bear scientists and partnerships that span the circumpolar Arctic, we focus on addressing both the long- and short-term challenges that polar bears face, with a goal of sustaining a future for the bears across the Arctic.

Polar Bears International accomplishes our mission to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on through research, collaboration, education/outreach, and action. It is our commitment to:

1.) Serve as the global resource for information regarding polar bears and their habitat;
2.) Be the leading voice about climate warming impacts on polar bears and the Arctic while actively seeking solutions through education, advocacy, and action;
3.) Conduct, support, and share scientific research that informs polar bear conservation;
4.) Educate an international audience about polar bear conservation and provide mentorship for the actions that will help ensure their survival;
5.) Proactively and effectively communicate science-based information on polar bears and their conservation;
6.) Maintain transparency in fiscal management and sound business policies and practices; and,
7.) Follow best environmental practices as an organization, including minimizing our greenhouse gas footprint.

With the help of a network of partners, including universities, zoos, aquariums, and government entities, Polar Bears International serves as a leading source for information about the challenges of our global climate emergency and solutions to slow the loss of Arctic sea ice and conserve polar bear populations. We seek out connections to amplify messages grounded in scientific study and promote the conservation of polar bears across the 19 subpopulations across the Arctic.

Polar Bears International accomplishes our mission to conserve polar bears and the sea ice they depend on through research, education, and advocacy. It is our commitment to:

1. Serve as the global resource for information regarding polar bears and their habitat;
2. Be the leading voice about climate warming impacts on polar bears and the Arctic while actively seeking solutions through education, advocacy, and action;
3. Conduct, support, and share scientific research that informs polar bear conservation;
4. Educate an international audience about polar bear conservation and provide mentorship for the actions that will help ensure their survival;
5. Proactively and effectively communicate science-based information on polar bears and their conservation; 6.
6. Maintain transparency in fiscal management and sound business policies and practices; and,
7. Follow best environmental practices as an organization, including minimizing our greenhouse gas footprint.

As a science-based organization with staff scientists renowned in the polar bear world, Polar Bears International (PBI) regularly participates in international meetings related to polar bear conservation, joining other representatives from the five polar bear nations (Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the U.S.). These groups help set research and conservation priorities for polar bears across the circumpolar Arctic. We also support others in attending such meetings when they may not have the means to do so themselves.
In addition, our staff scientists regularly conduct research and publish papers that add to our understanding of polar bears and help inform policy decisions, a unique approach in the nonprofit world. Specifically, our research projects are designed to understand polar bears’ behavior, including migration, movement, and denning, and how changes to this critical habitat affect their well-being. This research helps communities and wildlife managers set guidelines to protect the bears, informing management and recovery plans. For example, we recently provided in-depth commentary to U.S. government agencies on the threats posed to denning polar bear families from proposed oil and gas activity in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, based on our decades-long history of den research. The refuge is a key denning area for the threatened Southern Beaufort Sea population; this is a critical habitat where every den counts. The data gained over years of fieldwork will be a major factor should companies push to open the refuge to drilling despite the established risks to moms and cubs.
In addition, we are working with partners to track changes in the number of polar bears on land and shifts in human-polar bear encounters across the Arctic. We are engaged in providing solutions to people who live, work and recreate in polar bear country to keep both themselves and polar bears safe. From education on safety to low-tech deterrence methods (like bear spray and noisemakers) and new surveillance technology capable of detecting approaching polar bears, our team is working every angle to provide a full suite of solutions to help mitigate negative human-polar bear interactions.
As a result of our history and expertise, PBI continues to be a trusted source of information for decision-makers, community leaders, teachers, and the public regarding polar bears and their habitat. Our website reaches half a million people annually with the latest news and information about polar bears, the threats they face, and how we each can help. We also provide additional training and resources for nonprofits, zoos, aquariums, and educators to expand our reach, supporting the success of our mission.
PBI also partners with educational professionals to extend our reach into classrooms worldwide, providing science-based information about polar bears and the Arctic. We amplify our reach through education partners, i.e., Google Apple, Microsoft, and Discovery Education.