Youth voyagers to take on climate change

Gland, Switzerland: Eighteen young adults from nine countries will set sail next week on a 12-day Arctic voyage where they will learn more about climate change and its effects on the fragile Arctic ecosystem.

The 18 have been chosen as “Ambassadors for the Future”, and will use what they learn during the voyage to help WWF convince political leaders that they must act quickly to avert dangerous climate change.

Communications equipment on board means the ambassadors will be able to share their Arctic experiences with the outside world by posting photos, videos and weblogs which can be accessed via www.voyageforthefuture.org.

“These young people will witness unprecedented change because of the already locked-in effects of climate change,” said Dr Neil Hamilton, Director of WWF’s Arctic Programme. “If we do not act quickly the next generation will face a different world.”

“Last year saw both a record-breaking loss of Arctic sea ice last year – 39 per cent below the average of the last 30 years – and an increase in the release of methane from high latitudes. Both these arctic climate impacts accelerate global warming beyond current predictions. The Arctic is changing faster than ever, and is a place where climate change impacts are of global concern. This is why WWF has launched the Voyage to the Future programme. It is time for everyone to protect the future of the younger generation by calling on governments from around the world to take action.”

The group will sail along the west-coast of Svalbard on board the former research vessel MS Aleksey Maryshev, make land excursions and visit research stations. The voyage, which begins on June 9, will sail from Longyearbyen to the northernmost point of the west coast visiting the scientific settlement at Ny Alesund along the way. It will enter Woodfjorden and visit seal, seabird and walrus colonies at Prins Karls Forland, then head south to Sorkapp, where it is hoped to reach the edge of the sea ice. In this biologically productive area, it may be possible to see whales, moulting harp seals and polar bears.

The ambassadors are: Emma Biermann, 21, and Casper ter Kuile, 21, from the UK, Evanne Nowak, 19, and Michiel Jansen, 18, from the Netherlands; Greta Hamann, 19, and Johannes Barthelmess, 18, from Germany; Maria Waag, 20, and Karl Oskar Teien, 20, from Norway; Sven Heijbel, 20, and Nanny-Maja Anderbäck, 20, from Sweden; Dmitry Vladimirov, 19, and Ekaterina Levitskaya, 19, from Russia; Shunta Takagi, 19, and Yuriko Murakami, 20, from Japan; John Monaghan, 19, and Ben Wessel, 19, from the US; and Jeremy Brammer, 20, and Jayme Collins, 18, from Canada. Every duo will be accompanied by a WWF representative from their home country. More information about the ambassadors can be found on www.panda.org/climate.

The Voyage for the Future programme has been developed by WWF’s Arctic Programme in conjunction with icentials, a Dutch company that creates and implements projects that contribute to a more sustainable world.