Climate change and environmental changing are facts, which more and more gain our attention. Also in polar regions, their importance is increasing. In the 19th century, arctic areas were of significant scientific interest. In their research, also Austria took part with the support of the well-known German geographer August Petermann. Count Hans Nepomuk Wilczek was important for the realisation of those tasks due to his personal interest in arctic research, his contacts, and especially through his financial support. Three examples are presented: (1) in 1872 the voyage with the ship „Isbjörn“ from Tromsø via Spitsbergen to Novaja Semlja and the return via the Russian mainland and Saint Petersburg to Vienna, for supporting the expedition of the „Admiral Tegetthoff“; (2) in 1882 the expedition to the Jan Mayen island, which Wilczek had to leave early; (3) in 1913 the preparation of an Austrian antarctic expedition, which was, however, prevented by the First World War.