COP27 Video of the Week: “High-level Event: Dedication of “Fallen Totem” Arctic Summer Sea Ice” with ICC’s Lisa Koperqualuk and Dr. Robbie Mallett

The Cryosphere Pavilion traditionally has five displays, one for each of the main cryosphere dynamics: ice sheets, mountain glaciers and snow, permafrost, polar oceans, and sea ice. During COP27, the fifth totem was almost toppled over on its side, with the remaining four standing tall. Based on the conclusions of the IPCC Sixth Assessment and in close consultation with sea ice scientists, displaying this nearly-fallen totem symbolized the first “lost” cryosphere threshold. The IPCC noted that even with very low emissions, summer loss of Arctic sea ice – defined as sea ice extent falling below one million km2 – will occur at least once, likely before 2050. Although the loss of summer Arctic sea ice can no longer be prevented, emission reductions consistent with the 1.5°C Paris limit are the only means available to decrease the risk of passing remaining cryosphere thresholds as well.

Pam Pearson, the Director of ICCI, moderated this event. Speakers included Dr. Robbie Mallett, University of Manitoba Centre for Earth Observation Science; Lisa Koperqualuk, President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Canada; Bimochan Niraula, PhD Candidate at the Alfred Wegener Institute, University of Bremen; Arthi Ramachandran, PhD Candidate at Concordia University, Policy Analyst at the Office of the Chief Scientists, Natural Resources Canada; and ending the event with a performance, Simon Petermann, jazz trombonist and composer at the Swiss Jazz School and Bern University of the Arts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND-Qu3n5B2s