Antarctica on thin ice

“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.”

If President John F. Kennedy had spoken these famous words today, we would all have associated them with climate change.

Just a hundred years ago, Antarctica was unexplored territory. Today, it remains the part of the world we know least about. More than twenty nations, including Norway, are currently engaged in scientific research on this ice-covered continent. Norwegians were among the early pioneers of Antarctic exploration, and Norway gained a permanent place in Antarctic history when Roald Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag at the South Pole in 1911.

Except for researchers, there are no permanent human residents in Antarctica. Nevertheless, the human footprint is becoming increasingly visible. The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced a spectacular retreat and collapse of ice shelves over the past 11 years, which has been followed by a marked acceleration and thinning of the glaciers that were held back by the shelves.

Global warming and the melting of ice in remote areas like Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland are beyond any doubt due to human causes. Emissions from industrialised countries over the last two hundred and fifty years are the main cause. All of us will be affected by higher temperatures and rising sea levels, and we must therefore respond together.

Industrialised countries like Norway have to take responsibility for the damage they have caused to the environment, and must continue to take the lead in reducing emissions. Minimising dramatic future impacts of climate change is impossible without bold action to cut emissions, supported by greater use of carbon capture and storage, renewable energy and energy-saving measures. Norway’s goal is to become carbon neutral before 2050.

We can only reduce the fatal effects of climate change if we respond quickly. Global emissions of greenhouse gases must peak in the next decade. Ultimately, they must be reduced to a fraction of today’s level in order to restrict the rise in global temperatures to less than two degrees Celsius. It is time for richer countries to take responsibility for their actions in the past. However, climate change cannot be fought effectively without the strong commitment of the most prolific polluters, be they developed or developing.

Art plays a vital role in increasing humankind’s awareness and understanding. The ice bridge exhibited by Vebjørn Sand in front of the UN building in New York illustrates what is happening to the world’s ice. The location of this piece of art mirrors my conviction that the international response to climate change must be anchored in the United Nations.

The melting ice bridge represents both the industrialised world’s impact on the environment and the creativity of humankind. We can create beauty, and we can overcome challenges.

I believe President Kennedy’s optimistic follow-up statement to the quote above remains true – No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. To prove him right, we have to take action to address the enormous challenge of climate change before it is too late.

Jonas Gahr Støre
Minister of Foreign Affairs

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More information: www.norway.org