The urgency of addressing climate change has reached new heights as government leaders and scientists converge at the One Planet – Polar Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The alarming acceleration of snow, ice, and glacier melt poses an imminent threat to human, environmental, and economic well-being. In this edition of Green Chronicles, we delve into the summit’s call for urgent action, emphasizing the critical link between the cryosphere’s retreat and the broader challenges facing our planet.
The One Planet – Polar Summit: Urgent Calls for Action
Leaders from around the globe gathered at the One Planet – Polar Summit, sounding the alarm on the rapid pace of cryospheric changes. President Macron emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Climate change is already here and it’s a threat which is there and is getting worse by the minute.” The summit called for immediate measures, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions, intensive scientific research on the cryosphere, and integrating its effects into policymaking.
Decade on Polar and Glacier Sciences: A Pledge for the Future
The summit declaration marked a significant step towards addressing the cryosphere crisis. A United Nations Decade on Polar and Glacier Sciences is set to commence in 2025, coinciding with the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. This initiative, involving organizations like WMO, UNESCO, the International Science Council, and Antarctic Treaty System organizations, aims to deepen scientific understanding and contribute to the Fifth International Polar Year in 2032-33.
WMO Secretary-General’s Perspective: The Canary in the Coalmine
WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas highlighted the cryosphere’s role as the “canary in the coalmine” for climate and biodiversity crises. With greenhouse gas concentrations at alarming levels, the melting of glaciers and sea ice is expected to persist for millennia, threatening global ecosystems. A new scientific report released at the summit emphasized the urgency for better coordination, increased research, data exchange, improved forecasts, and involvement with local communities.
Impacts of Cryospheric Changes: A Dire Warning
Scientific leaders at the summit outlined the far-reaching impacts of cryospheric changes. Every additional centimetre of sea level rise jeopardizes millions through annual floods. The connection between carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and diminishing Arctic sea ice is stark — every ton of additional carbon dioxide removes 2 to 3 square meters of sea ice. Moreover, two billion people rely on water resources from mountain glaciers. The permafrost’s release of carbon, equivalent to up to 5 years of global emissions, poses an additional threat, exacerbated by wildfires in the Arctic.
The Call for Stronger Government Intervention
As the summit emphasized, science is a crucial ally in addressing the cryosphere crisis, providing solutions and innovations. However, Jérôme Chappellaz, Co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, stressed the need for stronger government intervention to expedite these solutions. Without decisive action, the pace of change may outstrip even the best efforts of science.
Conclusion
The Cryosphere Crisis, as highlighted in the Green Chronicles, is a stark reminder that urgent, collective action is imperative. The warning signs from the One Planet – Polar Summit demand not just acknowledgment but immediate and tangible steps towards mitigating the impacts of cryospheric changes. The fate of the cryosphere is intricately linked to the fate of our planet, and the time to act is now.