Ukraine joins global effort to conserve cryosphere

Ukraine has supported the global movement to protect the cryosphere by joining a significant international initiative to preserve glaciers and polar regions.

The National Antarctic Science Center director, Yevhen Dykyi, stated during the First International Summit on Glaciers and Poles, "One Planet."

As is known, the destruction of the cryosphere on a global scale:

• will lead to sea level rise;
• will affect every fifth inhabitant of the planet, who will have to change their place of residence;
• will cause the disappearance of many unique ecosystems.

"At the Ukrainian Antarctic station "Akademik Vernadskyi," we are already observing dramatic changes. If ten years ago the water area around our island was bound by ice for about nine months a year, then this year, even during the Antarctic winter, a stable ice cover did not form at all," emphasized Dykiy.

The scientist also emphasized that even though now in Ukraine, Ukrainians are fighting daily for their existence, their freedom, and, at the same time, for a world governed by international law, they still remember their responsibility for their country and the whole planet.

"Today is the 625th day of our war for independence, and on none of these days have we interrupted our measurements, observations, and research at the Ukrainian Antarctic station "Akademik Vernadskyi," as this is our contribution to the global world system of polar research and Earth monitoring," the head of the National Academy of Sciences noted.

It should be noted that the event took place in Paris on November 8-10, 2023, at the initiative and personal participation of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. The summit brought together scientists, politicians, and non-governmental organizations to discuss joint actions of humanity.

Such actions are now essential because, according to scientists, ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, sea ice, glaciers on mountaintops, and even permafrost are catastrophically melting.

The rate of ice cover loss in the Antarctic and Arctic has increased four times over the past 30 years. As for mountain glaciers, their rate of ice loss is, on average, 20% higher than in the previous decade. And these negative trends continue.

As a result of the summit, the Paris Appeal on Glaciers and Poles was signed. In particular, it provides for the following measures to preserve the cryosphere:

• accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
• encourage states to ratify and support the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, including the designation and establishment of marine protected areas on the high seas, and continue the ongoing work of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Commission to establish a representative system of marine protected areas around Antarctica;
• promote the application of the highest standards of sustainable development for all activities that affect glaciers and sea ice, including tourism, as well as exploration and production of hydrocarbons and mineral resources where permitted;
• organize sustainable tourism with minimal consequences for the cryosphere, etc.

It is planned to monitor progress in implementing this document every two years. It is important to note that Ukraine is already working on some of the mentioned measures. In particular, Ukraine currently chairs the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and actively initiates the creating of new marine protected areas in the Antarctic.

For reference:

For the first time, Ukrainian polar explorers took samples of the skin and fat of killer whales in the Antarctic.

Also, Ukrainian polar explorers began to study whales with the help of drones.