I would like to begin the note with the words of a Norwegian scientist, who stated, “Even if we reduced emissions by 100%, something impossible today, that would not have an immediate effect to stop the current trends. But the projections of the climate models are very clear.
If we reduce emissions now, the future in a few decades will be very different. If we do nothing, it will be much worse than if we act significantly today,” expresses Arild Sundfjord, senior researcher and director of the Arctic Ocean Program.
It is exactly the same thing I have been warning about since 2018 when I said “The line has been crossed, there is no return” regarding climate change and it goes without saying that I agree 100 percent with what Sundfjord expresses. Only that the director of the Arctic Ocean Program expresses it from the northern hemisphere and the person writing the note does so from the southern hemisphere.
There are many professionals and many scientists who think and believe this way, but unfortunately, they are NOT heard nor given the proper attention, especially in the political sphere and in the media.
Will polar bears disappear?
There are new modeling studies suggesting that some populations will disappear completely in the coming decades, but long-term projections are much more uncertain. It depends on how long there will still be sea ice in the refuge areas. An attempt is being made to protect an area in northern Canada and northwestern Greenland because the ice will remain there longer than in other areas of the Arctic. It is called “the last ice area.” If the ice remains there and their food too, some polar bears will continue to exist. But, in general, climate change is extremely negative for them.
What is happening with the glaciers in Argentina? The Perito Moreno, one of the few glaciers that until recently maintained a stable behavior against global warming, is losing mass at an alarming rate.
After decades defying the global trend of retreating glaciers, today, this giant of ice is entering a phase of melting that could mark the end of its stability.
The glacier no longer returns to its previous position, as it did in the past. This phenomenon began to be observed in 2022 and continued steadily in the following years. The most affected sector by this retreat is the northern margin, the part furthest from the tourist walkways and also the deepest part of Lago Argentino.
The Perito Moreno, part of the World Heritage since 1981, is no longer the exception in a glacial landscape that is being transformed by global warming. We are digging the grave of the world’s glaciers, and the Perito Moreno is just one of the many examples of what is to come.
What is climate change?
It is the long-term alteration of the Earth’s temperatures and weather patterns. It is primarily driven by human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), which releases greenhouse gases and traps heat in the atmosphere.
Mitigation involves changes in people’s daily activities and economic activities, with the aim of achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to reduce or make less severe the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), mitigation measures are those policies and technologies aimed at limiting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving their sinks.
Climate change is here and it is happening now. We used to talk about it being a problem for the future, but it is very clear that it is a reality. It has major effects throughout Argentina, we are seeing a greater flow of water, an increase in out-of-season rains, soil problems, and extreme droughts. Global warming greatly exacerbates weather phenomena that used to occur more spaced out over time and today are more recurrent and extreme.
The planet is changing and it is telling us that it is enough. We should be doing much more.
By: Cristián Frers – Senior Technician in Environmental Management and Senior Technician in Social Communication (Journalist).
