OUR PLANET MAGAZINE
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE CRYOSPHERE
7
a different
planet
The Norwegian Government is honoured to host the international World
Environment Day 2007 celebrations in recognition of the hot topic of melting ice.
Ice plays a critical role in shaping our planet's environment. Ice reflects a share
of the sun's heat back into space, cooling the planet. Ice holds large parts of the
world's freshwater supplies, and is a vital part of the ecosystems that sustain
both human life and wildlife.
Earth's ice cover is changing dramatically. Shrinking ice cover is a clear sign of
global warming. Global ice melting accelerated during the 1990s, which was
also the warmest decade on record. Ice is melting at sea, on land, and in the
ground, with shrinking mountain glaciers and thawing permafrost. Ice melting
is not limited to the polar areas, where it is melting at a dramatic pace. Ice is
melting in all regions.
It is our hope that the World Environment Day will focus on all the ways in
which climate change -- and melting ice -- affects people's lives all over the
world, whether this be in the form of sea level rise, land erosion, drought, floods,
storms or other threats to livelihoods and lifestyles. We need to remind ourselves
that a healthy and stable environment and a rich natural resource base are
essential for human welfare, development and security. We need to join forces
to communicate that this is something worth defending and fighting for, as an
international community and as individuals. This much we owe to ourselves and
to future generations.
As a polar nation, Norway is highly aware of the Arctic's vulnerability and its
important role in the global climate system. In addition, the fragile Arctic is
the final dumping ground for the persistent toxic chemicals that threaten
human health and nature everywhere, making toxic chemicals another global
priority issue. The Polar Regions are also of global importance as breeding
grounds for fish stocks and migratory species.
There is an urgent need to take action. We must change the warming trend
within the next couple of decades. If we don't, we will likely see changes that
make Earth a different planet than the one we know. Further global warming
of 1ºC defines a critical threshold. To keep within this threshold, global
greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by the middle of this century.
To meet global environmental challenges we need commitment not only
at the political -- but also at the corporate and grassroots -- levels. We don't
need one response; we need many responses. Norway is therefore glad to join
forces with the United Nations Environment Programme in making the World
Environment Day an occasion for broad mobilisation and action for life on earth,
all over the world.
by Helen Bjørnøy