I remember being intrigued 40 years ago in 1983 when I was told that the Arctic is classed as a desert. The information was given to me when I was preparing for my first expedition visit to Svalbard. It was explained that because of the frigid temperatures most of the year round, almost all the water is in solid form as ice, or present as snow. We’d likely need to melt snow as our drinking, washing and cooking water.
Now I’m in Svalbard once again in early August 2023, sitting outside under a portico in light clothing, the rain has been pouring almost continuously since we arrived 24 hours ago. It’s quite mild sitting here, probably around 10 degrees Celsius. The sky is leaden grey. The view of the mountains is obscured by the sheets of heavy rain. The drains are flowing full, gutters over-spilling and everything is saturated wet. The figures walking to and fro, are hooded and hunched against the weather. In the past 24 hours, more than half an inch (12.7mm) of rain has fallen on Longyearbyen, the gateway to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.
We all have to change the climate back.
Nature cannot do it for us at the speed we need it to change. It can only respond to the inputs we and the rest of nature put into it. It is never too late for us to change. We have to change quickly, not only to achieve zero carbon emissions, we should be targeting to effect carbon dioxide reduction in the atmosphere. Where we are now, in August 2023, is out of nature’s balance. To get back to balance, we have to undo what has been done and learn the lesson of consequences.
A new balance at a higher level of carbon dioxide, is not going to avoid the massive changes that are happening now, the change will continue as the ecosystems and nature react to it, at their pace. It has taken a few hundred years to knock it out of balance. We have to target tens of years to do everything we can to stop it and then reverse the spiral we have initiated.
Anything less is not enough.
Just 40 years ago this picture was taken of me in Svalbard in August, near sea level. There won’t be pictures like this to look back on from today in 40 years time. Today we won’t be melting snow to drink.
Mike Haynes, Founder Member ARG
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