Arctic tourists evacuated amid melting and unprecedented warming

authordefault
on

If the 21 tourists evacuated from the Baffin Islands yesterday weren’t convinced that we’re near a climate change tipping point they are now.

According to a Canwest new service story out this morning the tourists were evacuated from the Auyuittuq National Park:

“Thawing permafrost, eroding lakeshores, a melting glacier and fears of flash floods at a national park on Baffin Island have forced the evacuation of 21 tourists and led officials to declare much of the wilderness reserve off-limits until geologists and ice experts can assess what appear to be the latest dramatic effects of climate change in Canada’s Arctic.”

Canada Parks official Pauline Scot said, “this summer’s events are beyond anything we’re used to. This is no doubt a result of climate change.”

With a report about the break-up of the Arctic’s Ward Hunt Ice Shelf earlier this week and reports a few weeks ago about the further disintegration of the massive Wilkins Ice Shelf in Antarctic, I’ll say it again… something isn’t right at the Poles.

You would think by now that such events would’ve gone past being something more than just quirky news stories to read with our Starbucks. The signs from the poles are a chorus of calls to action, reasons to demand action now from government and industry to clean up their act – to put in place tough regulations on the greenhouse gas we’re pumping into the air.

How much more disturbing do the headlines need to be?

As an explorer I’ve experienced firsthand the freakish effects of a warming planet in the South Pole and this type of news hits home for me. Maybe the answer is that people need to feel the effects of climate change on their doorstep before they will understand the seriousness of the situation we’re facing.

Unfortunately, if we wait for everyone to be hit right between the eyes, I’m afraid it’ll probably be too late.


On November 8, 2008 Todd will attempt to become the first American in history to reach the South Pole, solo and unaided.

Sign up for Todd’s Expedition E-lerts and keep track of Todd’s Expedition with live updates throughout the journey.

Related Posts

on

The deal would place 40 percent of California’s idle wells in the hands of one operator. Campaigners warn this poses an "immense" risk to the state — which new rules could help to mitigate, depending on how regulators act.

The deal would place 40 percent of California’s idle wells in the hands of one operator. Campaigners warn this poses an "immense" risk to the state — which new rules could help to mitigate, depending on how regulators act.
Opinion
on

Corporations are using sport to sell the high-carbon products that are killing our winters, and now we can put a figure on the damage their money does.

Corporations are using sport to sell the high-carbon products that are killing our winters, and now we can put a figure on the damage their money does.
on

Inside the conspiracy to take down wind and solar power.

Inside the conspiracy to take down wind and solar power.
on

A new report estimates the public cost of underwriting U.S. plastics industry growth and the environmental violations that followed.

A new report estimates the public cost of underwriting U.S. plastics industry growth and the environmental violations that followed.