One Planet - Polar Summit, the Ice Memory Foundation at the heart of the Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles
Research
On December 6, 2023
From November 8 to 10 in Paris, the One Planet-Polar Summit brought together experts and leaders from over thirty nations with the objective to step into action for the cryosphere. The Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles was launched, calling for concrete action to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. President E. Macron included a request for support the Ice Memory Foundation, of which UGA is a partner, and called for support for the principle of a future Decade of Polar and Glacial Research starting in 2025.
As a preamble to the Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles and before handing over their scientific report to President Macron, Antje Boetius and Jérôme Chappellaz - respectively Director of the Wegener Institute and President of the Ice Memory Foundation, both co-chairmen of the Summit's Scientific Council - underlined the urgency of preserving the ice memory for the scientific value and cultural heritage it represents for future generations. In his address as Head of State, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Honorary Chairman of the Ice Memory Foundation, raised the importance of the initiative for the benefit of future generations.
This Call represents an important first step. It is the crucial cornerstone of the diplomacy required to keep ice memory alive in the international community.
Facing the acceleration of glacier degradation, this political and governmental commitment at international level also calls for the mobilization of the private sector and the very needed philanthropic support of the Ice Memory Foundation. The stakes and the race against time call for a strong public and private commitment.
This Call represents an important first step. It is the crucial cornerstone of the diplomacy required to keep ice memory alive in the international community.
Ice Memory is one of the "major projects already agreed" of the Decade
A number of projects have already been finalized. The Ice Memory Foundation, Foundation under the aegis of the UGA Foundation, could be one of the flagship projects. Following this presidential declaration, the Ice Memory Foundation's mission was officially included in the final declaration, recognized and supported by 32 signatory countries.6. In light of these indisputable and alarming findings, on which there is consensus among the international community, we are thus launching the Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles. […]
• We are calling for more in-depth scientific research on the cryosphere without delay, better integration of the effects of cryosphere changes into economic decision-making and increased education on the issues relating to this:[…]
o By supporting initiatives such as the Ice Memory Project, which aims to collect and preserve ice cores from glaciers at risk of disappearance, thus safeguarding the critical environmental data preserved in the ice; […]
• We are calling for more in-depth scientific research on the cryosphere without delay, better integration of the effects of cryosphere changes into economic decision-making and increased education on the issues relating to this:[…]
o By supporting initiatives such as the Ice Memory Project, which aims to collect and preserve ice cores from glaciers at risk of disappearance, thus safeguarding the critical environmental data preserved in the ice; […]
It's a real victory for the Ice Memory Foundation!
In view of the Ice Memory Foundation's roadmap and the sites to be sampled as soon as possible, the commitment of Pakistan, Peru and Australia is most welcome. Let's hope that Canada and the United States will be able to demonstrate their interest in ice conservation at a later date, following the example of China which, although it has not signed the Paris Call, has joined the Ice Memory initiative within a specific collaboration of the Chinese scientific community.Facing the acceleration of glacier degradation, this political and governmental commitment at international level also calls for the mobilization of the private sector and the very needed philanthropic support of the Ice Memory Foundation. The stakes and the race against time call for a strong public and private commitment.
Published on December 6, 2023
Updated on December 6, 2023
Updated on December 6, 2023
