8:30 Cryosphere Coordination Meeting
Daily coordination meetings and negotiations updates will be held every morning the Cryosphere Pavilion.
Contact: Stefan Ruchti (stefan@iccinet.org) or Pam Pearson (pam@iccinet.org)

10:00 State of Marine Protection in the Southern Ocean: The Critical Role of the CCAMLR in Achieving 30×30
At the CBD COP, ASOC launched the State of Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean Report. This event will convene experts to discuss the crucial role Southern Ocean MPAs can play in achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 goal. With the Antarctic region facing severe climate impacts, adopting MPAs is essential for CCAMLR to lead global efforts. By taking decisive action, CCAMLR can set a global standard for marine protection and drive progress towards 30×30.
Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)

11:30 Polar Oceans: The Triple Threat of Acidification, Warming and Freshening
The Arctic and Southern Oceans are crucial components of the Earth system. Their unique ecosystems are under serious threat from warming, acidification, freshening and ice loss. Polar oceans already experience changes in chemistry, and continued warming is leading to range shifts, changes in food webs, ecosystems, fisheries, and climate regulation. This session highlights the latest scientific and discusses the wider societal and political impacts, while emphasizing the need to raise ambition for reducing emissions.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory

13:00 Vanishing Sea Ice: What It Means for Our Oceans and Ecosystems
Leading experts will discuss ongoing and future changes in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, their effects on polar ocean ecosystems, and our current understanding and preparedness for these changes. As sea ice remains a unique, fundamental, and fragile habitat, precautionary principles, thorough scientific studies, and strong regulatory frameworks are crucial when considering any human interventions. Finally, policy recommendations will be provided where further research is urgently needed.
Finnish Environment Institute

14:30 Accelerating Progress to Reduce Black Carbon Emissions: An Arctic Case Study on Technical and Political Solutions
As the Arctic region is highly sensitive to the effects of black carbon, reducing black carbon emissions is crucial for tackling regional warming and protecting human health. This event will present findings from a case study on black carbon emissions reduction, as part of a forthcoming political economy analysis. The session will explore the most promising solutions for emissions reduction, considering their political ‘feasibility’ and potential for climate and health impacts. It will include reflections from national governments, and most-affected Indigenous communities.
Clean Air Fund

16:00 International Environmental and Climate Negotiations
In alignment with Polar Oceans Day, this panel will delve into international environmental and climate negotiations, emphasizing governance mechanisms and collaborative strategies that address global environmental challenges. COP29 stands at a pivotal intersection: between the first Global Stocktake (GST) and the Coming NDCs. In this context, the session will explore the pathwayvfrom the GST to new NDCs, aiming to answer the crucial question: How can we keep 1.5°C alive?
University of Geneva, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), ETH Zurich, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, University of Bonn

18:00 Krill from Space
Launch of a new science project with WWF, University of Strathclyde and the British Antarctic Survey investigating the feasibility of using remote sensing to contribute towards our understanding of krill distribution, biomass, and change as a result of ocean warming.
WWF, University of Strathclyde, British Antarctic Survey

19:30 The Power of Images: Connecting Humanity with Nature’s Fragility
This session will take audiences from the North Pole to South Pole and Pacific island states, connecting glacial melt with rising sea levels and the threat of wiping out entire nations. A polar photographer will spotlight melting ice and the consequences for biodiversity, with a particular focus on Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica. Photographs of scientific work illuminate the importance of ice sheet, sea ice, and marine research to foster collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and the public. Science and indigenous wisdom play a crucial role in understanding climate change and developing solutions, demonstrating the intertwined relationship between people and nature, and the potential of traditional practices for sustainable futures.
Blue Earth Explorers, Society for Environmental Awareness.