Webinar on Restoration of Greenland and Himalayan Glaciers

–Rituraj Phukan

Glaciers.

His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, (Chairman, Arctic Circle and former President of the Republic of Iceland), climate scientists Sir David King, Dr. Peter Wadhams, Dr M R Bhutiyani, Dr. Leslie Field and Healthy Climate Initiative (HCI) President Dr. Soumitra Das were among the speakers at a webinar on ‘Restoration of Greenland and Himalayan Glaciers’ organized by the Healthy Climate Initiative, Arctic Ice Project and The Climate Reality Project India yesterday.

It is well established that the Arctic and Himalayan glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Unless checked, the melting would have profound implications for life forms around the world. The organizers envisage the hosting of a symposium to communicate the realities and urgency of slowing the melt of the HKH and Greenland glaciers and to avert catastrophic impacts on the life and livelihood of billions of people, later this year. This interactive webinar was organized as a prelude to the symposium, which will be scheduled later this year.

His Excellency President Grimsson gave an overview of the glacial loss in the Arctic and HKH regions, the challenges faced by people living in these regions, and a roadmap for collaborative action, following the introductory speech delivered by HCI President and one of the Co-Conveners Dr. Soumitra Das.

Sir David King, Emeritus Professor at Cambridge University and former Special Representative for Climate Change to the Foreign Secretary, UK, in his presentation spoke about the implications of loss of sea ice across the arctic, methane leakage from the ocean floor and across the Russian arctic.

Dr. Peter Wadhams, Emeritus Professor, Ocean Physics, and Head, Polar Ocean Physics Group of Cambridge University, spoke about the need for interim solutions to restore the Arctic and Himalayan ice sheets.

Dr. Mahendra R. Bhutiyani, Director (Retd), Defence Terrain Research Laboratory, shared his vast research on the subject in a presentation entitled ‘Climate Change, its implications and mitigation strategies – A Himalayan Perspective.’

Dr. Leslie Field, Founder and CTO of Arctic Ice Project and Co-Convener of the event elaborated on the Arctic Ice Project’s solution to restore the Arctic ice sheet and the potential of extending it to slow the melting of Himalayan and Greenland glaciers.

After an interactive Q & A and discussions on the way forward, Co-Convener Rituraj Phukan delivered the Vote of Thanks on behalf of The Climate Reality Project India.

Regards,*Rituraj Phukan, National Coordinator for Biodiversity, The Climate Reality Project India