Arctic Basecamp founder, Professor Gail Whiteman will be in the official WEF zone as a white badge holder moderating and presenting at a number of sessions. One of our Early Career Scientists, Harmony Wayner who joins us as part of our youth delegation is also an official WEF delegate. Arctic Basecamp will be holding events at the SDG tent and also has a programme of activities at the real-life polar Basecamp tent.
It was a snow-less trip into Davos by train than previous years, a stark reminder that climate change is right here right now, physically present at the heart of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting. Arctic Basecamp, a not-for-profit science communications platform, are back for the seventh year (including the online 2021 version) putting cold, hard facts in front of world leaders before it’s too late.
The snow arrived just in time on Sunday, on the eve before the meeting opens on Monday 16 January but it is unusually late in the season with many ski slopes closed through lack of snow across Europe. The Arctic Basecamp team will still be camping, snow or no snow, in front of the Berghotel Schatzalp to press for the urgency for transformative climate action. Joining Arctic Basecamp this year will be some of the world’s leading climate scientists and youth activists, and impressive speaker line-ups including HRH Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, the Climate Envoy for the Netherlands, business leaders and Wode Maya, YouTube creator.
Arctic breakdown elevates risk far beyond its borders, affecting how we live and do business everywhere. Rapid Arctic change is a threat multiplier, amplifying existing threats to climate, safety, security, environmental resilience, and economic stability across the world. The Arctic is the control centre for global climate risks and it is telling us we need to act now.
The WEF meeting in Davos, with the 2023 theme of “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”, highlights the need for science, business and policy to work together and align polices and strategies to allow concrete action following COP27.
The WEF meeting in Davos, with the 2023 theme of “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”, highlights the need for science, business and policy to work together and align polices and strategies to allow concrete action following COP27.
Throughout the meeting, Arctic Basecamp will be advising world leaders and policymakers to unite behind the science while presenting new climate facts and research that amplifies the global risk of Arctic climate change.
“It was as stark reminder travelling into Davos this year that climate change affects everywhere, not just through a lack of snow in the Swiss Alps, but the Asian monsoon, floods in California and Pakistan are all made worse by a warming climate. The Arctic may seem a long way away from these places, but the changes far north amplify these extreme weather events affecting business supply chains and the way people live, work and ultimately survive. The frightening thing is that the Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet.” – Gail Whiteman, Arctic Basecamp’s Founder and Executive Director. Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School.
“It was as stark reminder travelling into Davos this year that climate change affects everywhere, not just through a lack of snow in the Swiss Alps, but the Asian monsoon, floods in California and Pakistan are all made worse by a warming climate. The Arctic may seem a long way away from these places, but the changes far north amplify these extreme weather events affecting business supply chains and the way people live, work and ultimately survive. The frightening thing is that the Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet.” – Gail Whiteman, Arctic Basecamp’s Founder and Executive Director. Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School.
Some highlights from this week’s programme:
Youth demand action on climate - Monday 16th January 13:00
Arctic Basecamp’s Youth Activists and Early Career Scientists from around the globe take the lead in our opening session. Sharing personal stories on how Arctic change is affecting their home countries whilst Arctic Basecamp scientists will highlight the latest science and global risks. Together, they will explore and discuss local and global solutions that businesses and governments can implement at this critical point.
You Tube creator Wode Maya will also join the panel.
Unpacking the Polar Crisis – Livestream from the Congress Centre to Arctic Basecamp -Tuesday 17th January 2023, 15.00-16.00
Professor Gail Whiteman, will be speaking alongside HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Áslat Holmberg, President of the Saami Council. This session explores the connection between the health of the poles and the health of the planet and how Indigenous communities are promoting harmony with nature in their way of life.
Climate Solutions in a Critical Decade – LIVE at SDG tent - Thursday 19th January 2023, 15.00-16.00
Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme will provide the keynote for this session looking at how we will “blow” our remaining carbon budget in just nine years if current emissions levels persist. A panel discussion moderated by Professor Gail Whiteman with Simon Sharpe, Director of Economics for the UNFCCC Climate Champions, Visiting Fellow - GSI Institute, University of Exeter, Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO and Chief Change Catalyst - The B Team, Arctic scientists and Youth Ambassadors and Early Career Scientists from Arctic Basecamp.
Other events include:
Responsible Business Education as the New Norm– Intent Earth Room, SDG tent - Monday 16th January 15:00
Professor Gail Whiteman will be a panellist at this live event in the SDG tent. A panel discussion between schools, leading businesses and key networks to identify the key levers to make business education the new norm.
In Harmony with Nature – Open Forum, Turnhalle Tobelmüle Monday, 16 January 2023, 18.30 – 19.30
Professor Gail Whiteman, will be moderating the ‘In Harmony with Nature’ session at this Open Forum live event. How do we mobilize action towards climate positive lifestyles?
WWF – Walrus from Space Phase II launch - Tuesday 17th January 2023, 13.30 – 14.30
Become a detective and spot walrus from space. Hosted by Arctic Basecamp, WWF take to the stage to talk about how Walruses are facing the reality of the climate crisis in the Arctic and what each of us can do to help. We need to better understand them in order to help safeguard their future.
Drop-in sessions and executive briefings will also take place throughout the week.
Journalists attending the World Economic Forum are invited to attend sessions, which will also be live-streamed. World leaders and climate scientists will be available for comment. To arrange an interview, contact helen@arcticbasecamp.org (+44 7837 913280)
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About Arctic Basecamp
Arctic Basecamp is a team of Arctic experts and scientists who ‘speak science to power’ in order to encourage bold climate action. Professor Gail Whiteman created Arctic Basecamp as a vehicle to bring this message of Arctic risk to global leaders. We work with global scientists and world-class organisations and individuals to raise awareness of the global risks from Arctic change and to highlight the urgent need for scalable solutions to climate change. It is a registered not for profit in the Netherlands.
For further information and interviews
For further information about our high-level sessions and spokespeople available for interview, please contact:
Helen Clay, Communications Director
Whats App - +44 7837 913280
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