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What the Arctic and Antarctic are trying to tell us, and why Southeast Asia must listen
(Ecosperity, 28 Aug 2019) The melting of the ice caps affects everyone — particularly Southeast Asia — and the world must strive to meet its Paris Agreement targets to avoid dramatic sea level rises from 2050, say polar explorer Robert Swan and scientist Adam Switzer.
He became the first man to walk to both the North and South poles more than 30 years ago.
However, today, it is physically impossible to walk to the North Pole because there isn’t enough ice to walk on, said explorer Robert Swan at a special edition of the Ecosperity Conversations series during Ecosperity Week in Singapore.
The message that the Arctic and Antarctic are trying to send humanity is clear: Tackle global warming and the melting of ice sheets, or the future of humankind is in jeopardy, said Swan.
“We really have to treat our situation now on Earth as a matter of survival. We have a huge battle to get through this,” he said.
Previous generations have kicked the can down the road, but there can be no further passing of the buck, Swan said.
Scientists have warned that humans must make unprecedented changes to the way we generate energy, use land and live today, to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. If we do not act now, the effects of global warming will continue to accelerate, with potentially devastating consequences.
Ecosperity, 28 Aug 2019: What the Arctic and Antarctic are trying to tell us, and why Southeast Asia must listen
