Tuesday 1 July 2008

WWF-UK's Get on Board petition asks the Government to commit to reduce the UK's CO₂ emissions by at least 80% by 2050 in the Climate Change Bill currently going through parliament. It also calls for this to include emissions from international aviation and shipping.

The pair have just been on an arctic voyage which set off from Svalbard, Norway, where they visited some of the area's fjords to witness the shrinking glaciers and reduction in sea ice. They also sailed to Ny Ålesund, the most northern settlement in the world at 78 degrees N and an international centre for Arctic research. During the trip the students were able to see the wealth of Arctic wildlife including seals, walrus, reindeer and the critically-threatened polar bear, whose habitat is disappearing.

"It is essential that the petition is taken on board by the government because the situation is far more urgent than many people had feared", said Emma. "Visiting the Arctic and hearing the scientific background has confirmed how serious this issue is. We need to work for a global social movement that will put pressure on governments worldwide to make long-term decisions about people and planet."

Casper said: "Seeing the beautiful Arctic landscape with its vastness, the snow-capped peaks and glaciers feeding into the ocean really formed a clear picture of the changes that are taking place. The message we've taken to Downing Street is that we must strengthen the Climate Change Bill to set a target for the UK to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050, including emissions from boats and planes."

As well as witnessing the natural environment, the students also received lectures from WWF staff and experts in the field on the effects of climate change, the tipping points and feedback mechanisms (when melting sea ice reduces the area of white surface able to reflect the sun's heat and the exposed ocean then absorbs yet more heat). They also learnt about the growing economic interests in the Arctic from oil and gas, fishing and shipping industries and the dangers these pose.

Having experienced first-hand the harsh realities of the impacts of global warming in the Arctic and gaining a wealth of new knowledge of climate change, they will continue to work as young ambassadors with WWF to deliver the message for urgent action on this issue.

Read the blogs and see the pictures from their journey.