Greenpeace to document Antarctic climate change

Greenpeace to document Antarctic climate change

By Pip Hinman

In an attempt to pressure governments to set greenhouse targets, Greenpeace has embarked on a four-week expedition to document emerging signs of climate change in the Antarctic.

The third United Nations-sponsored climate summit is scheduled for Kyoto, Japan, in December. Vigorous opposition from Australia and the United States ensured that the first two conferences failed to agree on setting targets to reduce greenhouse gases. This meeting will again attempt to set targets.

The MV Arctic Sunrise left Argentina on January 21 to document ongoing climatic and ecosystem changes. Greenpeace says that rapid increases in temperature have caused the disintegration of vast areas of the ice shelf along the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The decline of penguin populations, the southward movement of seals and spreading colonies of flowering plants are also evidence, Greenpeace says, of climatic impacts.

The effects of warming could extend well beyond the Antarctic region. For example, the loss of sea ice reduces the reflection of sunlight and changes the ability of the ocean to absorb carbon dioxide and heat.

According to Michael Bland, spokesperson for Greenpeace Australia, "Australians have a special responsibility to protect Antarctica from the ravages of climate change. While Australia claims over 40% of the icy continent, we are also some of the highest users of fossil fuels — the main cause of climate change."

From GLW issue 260