Earth's climate is changing, with the global temperature now rising at a rate unprecedented in the experience of modern human society. These climate changes, including increases in ultraviolet radiation, are being experienced particularly intensely in the Arctic. Because the Arctic plays a special role in global climate, these changes in the Arctic will also affect the rest of the world. It is thus essential that decision makers have the latest and best information available regarding ongoing changes in the Arctic and their global implications. The Arctic Council called for this assessment and charged two of its working groups, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), along with the International Arctic Science Committee (lASC), with its implementation. An Assessment Steering Committee was charged with the responsibility for scientific oversight and coordination of all work related to the preparation of the assessment reports. This assessment was prepared over the past five years by an international team of over 300 scientists, other experts, and knowledgeable members of the indigenous communities. The report has been thoroughly researched, is fully referenced, and provides the first comprehensive evaluation of arctic climate change, changes in ultraviolet radiation, and their impacts for the region and for the world. The scientific results reported herein provided the scientific foundation for the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) synthesis report, entitled ''Impacts of a Warming Arctic", released in November 2004.
