COP30 Cryosphere Pavilion Schedule
Monday, Nov. 10 | Connections Between Amazonía and Cryosphere
14:00-15:15 | Grounded on Ice: Early Career Scientists Bridging the Cryosphere and Our Future
Our team Early Career Scientists volunteering at the Cryosphere Pavilion during Week 1 will give presentations on their research and fieldwork in the cryosphere, explaining the global importance of polar ice sheets, mountain glaciers and snow, permafrost, polar oceans, and sea ice.
ICCI
Tuesday, Nov. 11 | Feasible Pathways to 1.5°C Emissions Reductions
10:00-10:45 | Scientific Revisions, Policy Decisions: Climate Effect of Black Carbon in the Arctic
This session will address policy communication to explain this revision, which is largely the result of emission data and improved methods of modelling interactions of atmospheric components. It will show results about the evolving understanding of the behavior and impacts of BC and why policy should continue to emphasize rapid reductions in BC emissions in the Arctic and beyond.
Clean Air Fund, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, AMAP
14:00-15:15 | Climate Overshoot Challenges: Peatland Warming, Risky Assumptions, and Temporary CDR Solutions
With 2024 marking the first year above 1.5°C, focus grows on overshoot and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Research reveals peatland warming increases CDR needs, while a new method to include temporary CDR into climate policy offers a way to offset short-lived climate forces. New research shows the increasing challenges for societies facing an overshoot world and calls for critical policy evaluation to meet climate targets.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE), Climate Analytics
19:45 | Indigenous-Led Initiatives to Govern Frozen Commons
As the cryosphere rapidly melts, there is an urgent need to understand what this means for these frozen commons—snow, ice, and permafrost-based environments — governed by people whose livelihoods and cultures depend on them, and for planetary sustainability. Arctic Indigenous Peoples have been on the front lines of witnessing the effects of ice and permafrost degradation and of adapting to change through long-term, detailed observations and monitoring. The event invites Indigenous Peoples, nomadic communities, scientists, artists, and policymakers to discuss how to combine cutting-edge research with Indigenous and traditional knowledge, to create and enforce alliances between Arctic Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders, and make informed decisions on the governance of the cryosphere that impact future generations.
Arctic Athabascan Council and Polar Bears International, GWU, Yukaghir Elders Council, World Reindeer Herders, CCRCC, Mongolia
Wednesday Nov. 12 | Polar Oceans
10:00-10:45 | The Future of Tropical Glaciers Relies on Today’s Policies
The mass loss of glaciers globally significantly impacts sea-level rise, freshwater resources, tourism, culture, and more. Here we discuss the latest glacier projections and how our actions as a society, by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, can reduce the severity of these impacts. These impacts from glacier mass loss are experienced at both global and local scales thus highlighting the utility of global glacier projections in combination with localized work to support adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Carnegie Mellon University, ICCI, IPCC SROCC
14:00-15:15 | Super Pollutants, Arctic Shipping, Myths and Realities
Immediately reducing emissions of super pollutants – short-lived climate forcers – is the best option to avoid runaway Arctic warming and remain below 1.5C. Methane, ozone and black carbon are responsible for nearly half of global warming experienced to date, yet black carbon emissions from shipping remain unregulated and liquified natural gas is marketed as “green fuel”. This event will bust myths while highlighting the need for urgent action by Arctic shipping to protect the Arctic cryosphere.
Clean Arctic Alliance, AMAP, Equal Routes, International Maritime Organization (IMO), WWF
17:00-18:15 | Navigating Arctic Ocean Protection: Current Status and Future Directions
The Arctic Ocean is under increasing pressure from climate change, with sea ice loss, ocean acidification, warming and freshening occurring more rapidly in the Arctic compared to the rest of the global ocean. This event considers what is needed to protect this vulnerable ecosystem. We bring together a range of voices to discuss what roles different players have and how best to move science forward in order to allow Indigenous and local communities to adapt to changing conditions. While also raising critical considerations for mitigation and future sustainable use of the Arctic Ocean.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Moore Foundation, 90 North Foundation, WWF, AMAP, Inuit Council
Thursday, Nov. 13 | Ice Sheets
10:00-10:45 | Warming of 1.5°C is Too High for Polar Ice Sheets
Mass loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has quadrupled since the 1990s. This has raised concerns about their future stability and focused attention on the temperature thresholds that might trigger more rapid retreat or even collapse, with renewed calls to meet the more ambitious target of the Paris Climate Agreement and limit warming to 1.5 °C. This side event will summarize recent evidence to show that 1.5 °C is too high and that even current climate forcing (1.2 °C), if sustained, is likely to generate several meters of sea-level rise over the coming centuries, causing extensive loss and damage to coastal populations and challenging the implementation of adaptation measures. To avoid this requires a global mean temperature that is cooler than present, highlighting the need to rapidly reduce emissions; and reinforcing recent calls for a stricter and more ambitious long-term temperature goal for a safe and just future for planet Earth.
Durham University, Potsdam University, Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Max-Planck Institute for Geoanthropology
15:30-16:45 | Bridging Climate Finance Gaps: Lessons from Bangladesh’s Coast and Hilly Areas
Bangladesh’s coastal belt and hilly areas face adverse climate impacts due to diverse climatic hazards, including cyclones, sea-level rise, salinity, floods, and landslides. The coastal region receives climate financing for different adaptation and mitigation interventions; however, hilly areas lag in receiving adequate climate finance for implementing such measures. This session will explore financing gaps, regional disparities, and recommendations to ensure inclusive, appropriate adaptation and loss and damage responses.
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of Bangladesh, Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh, University of Dundee, Centre for Climate Change and Environment Research (C3ER) at BRAC University
18:30-19:45 | Launch of the State of the Cryosphere Report 2025
Latest research detailed in the 2025 State of the Cryosphere Report notes thresholds likely at just 1°C of warming for the stability of the polar ice sheets, and even lower temperatures for many glaciers. The Report also notes however that the most proactive climate pathways, also released today, can bring down temperatures below 1.5°C by 2100 and below 1°C next century – but only if reductions begin immediately.
ICCI
19:45 | Frozen Heritage & Sinking Islands: The Fight to Preserve Culture in a Warming World
As an environmental photographer, explorer, and public speaker, I operate at the intersection of climate, science, and culture, using visual storytelling to raise awareness about the human dimension of environmental crises. Over the past decade, I’ve documented fragile ecosystems and cultures from Antarctica to the Pacific and Arctic regions, often in close collaboration with scientific institutions and UN-affiliated bodies. Key themes: how cultural identity is threatened by climate change; the role of photography and storytelling in driving public engagement and policy attention; case studies from the Pacific Islands, Antarctica, and the Arctic; and integrating resilience, adaptation, and heritage preservation in climate strategies.
Christian Clauwers
Friday, Nov. 14 | Permafrost
15:00-16:30, UNFCCC Side Event | The Perils of Ignoring Science and 1.5°C at COP30: Tipping Points in the Cryosphere, Their Impacts, and How to Avoid ThemWhile some actors try to undermine the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target at COP30, scientists at least are aligned: overshooting 1.5°C brings severe and potentially irreversible impacts for polar regions and the Earth’s ice and snow, which in turn will cause loss and damage all over the world. The latest State of the Cryosphere report details those impacts, but also highlights new ambitious ways forward – if obstructionists at COP30 stop denying physical reality.
COP30 Blue Zone, Side Event Room 9, Area C
15:30-16:45 | Permafrost-Climate Feedbacks & How is Permafrost Mapped from Space and on the Ground?
Scientific presentations will focus on permafrost dynamics and their relevance for ongoing climate negotiations. Speakers will summarize the state of knowledge on permafrost thaw; the potential carbon dioxide and methane emissions anticipated under present warming trends; and the status of efforts to monitor, measure, and account for these emissions. They will further discuss ecosystem tipping points now unfolding across the permafrost region, which are projected to worsen and become more widespread if global temperatures approach 2°C.
Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), European Space Agency
18:30-19:45 | Permafrost Thaw is Warming the Global Climate and Impacts Communities, Health, and Oceans
This session will provide a holistic overview of the impacts of permafrost thaw on the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. At least one third of the Arctic’s land ecosystems are now confirmed as a net source of greenhouse gas emissions. Permafrost thaw also poses major physical risks to humans and infrastructure. Speakers will discuss observed land degradation and displacement of Arctic communities, and also explore how this thaw amplifies sea-level rise, alters coastal environments, and pushes the limits of adapation into loss and damage. As part of a solutions mindset, the ILLUQ project (the Inuvialuktun word for partner) is rooted in participatory research with local stakeholders and rightsholders. It focuses on the long-term implications of decision-making in the context of permafrost thaw.
Woodwell Climate Research Center, Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, AWI
Saturday, Nov. 15 | Mountain Glaciers and Snow
10:00-10:45 | Adapting to a Changing Cryosphere: Lessons from the Andes on Securing Water and Reducing Risks
This event aims to showcase solutions for climate change adaptation in mountain and cryosphere areas and discuss the different factors for success. Speakers from Adaptation at Altitude will present findings from the recent UNIGE/GLOMOS effectiveness and sustainability evaluation of adaptation actions in the Andes, which will be used as the basis for discussion with representatives from other regions (such as the HKH) and those who implement solutions on the ground. The event will share good practices that can be taken from the Andes and implemented around the world.
Adaptation at Altitude, University of Geneva, GLOMOS, ICIMOD, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Lima Office, Glaciares+ Project
12:30-13:45 | Release of the White Paper on “Barriers to Glaciers-related Financing”
The White Paper on “Barriers to Glaciers-related Financing” is an effort by ICCI with support of the Asian Development Bank under the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), under which ICCI chairs the Working Group on Policy and Finance. Stakeholders from the financing and development impact community highlight interlinkages between increasing water, adaptation, and physical risk based on the latest cryosphere science.
BNP Paribas, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Cryosphere and Climate Initiative, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
17:00-18:15 | Wild Animals from the Polar Regions to the Amazon: An Important Climate Tool for Ecosystem Resilience
The Amazon rainforest and the Earth’s cryosphere, though geographically distant, are profoundly interconnected. Deforestation, biomass burning, and the loss of biodiversity from land-use change in Amazonía is linked to Andean glacier melt, downstream hydrological changes that impact biodiversity and affecting species which migrate between the regions. In turn, accelerated cryospheric change alters water availability and ecosystems throughout the Amazon basin as well as food availability. Together, these processes undermine biodiversity, human well-being, and global climate stability – yet policy responses have too often treated the two regions in isolation. By connecting the Amazon and cryosphere through science-based policy solutions, experts will demonstrate that safeguarding ecosystems and animals is not peripheral to climate ambition but central to it. It will offer governments a practical pathway to strengthen their NDCs, foster regional cooperation, and lay the foundations for a Declaration that reflects the interdependence of our planet’s forests and polar regions.
World Federation for Animals, Federal University of Pará, Blue Marine Foundation, World Animal Protection
Monday, Nov. 17 | Thresholds and Tipping Points
10:00-10:45 | Tipping Points for Earth’s Frozen Regions: From Alaska to Antarctica
Featuring a case study on Alaskan ice fields and glaciers as part of the newly released Global Tipping Points Report, this event will link glacier thresholds with widespread impacts on downstream areas, local people, and wildlife. Speakers will identify best governance practices as well as the importance of merging scientific methodology with traditional and Indigenous knowledge. Presentations will warn of similar threshold behavior in Earth’s polar ice sheets, including both Greenland and Antarctica, which will commit us to irreversible future sea-level rise depending how high temperatures rise and how long those temperatures are maintained.
Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Newcastle University, University of Alaska-Southeast, University of Alaska Fairbanks
17:00-18:15 | Educating for the Cryosphere: 5 Years of Lessons Learned and Future Pathways for Impact
As the cryosphere melts, education emerges as a vital lever for resilience. This side event presents lessons from five years of implementing the Ocean & Cryosphere manual co-developed by OCE with the IPCC, which has trained over 30,000 teachers and reached more than four million students. It will share how science-based, inclusive education has helped teachers, students and communities in Latin America engage with cryosphere realities, and explore the path forward to scale that impact.
Office for Climate Education, UNESCO, Secretary of Education of Para, Brasil, French National Space Agency CNES, Fundacion Cortes Solari (Chile), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e tecnologia da Criosfera
18:30-19:45 | Policy Briefing: Emerging Evidence of Abrupt Changes in the Antarctic Environment
Changes in Antarctica have global impacts. Multiple abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment are now unfolding – spanning Antarctica’s ice, ocean and ecosystems – and the interconnections between these systems amplify the risks of exceeding tipping points. This side event highlights the emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment and discusses the policy responses needed to limit further “surprises” and irreversible losses from the Antarctic region.
The Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, and the Australian Antarctic Division
Tuesday, Nov. 18 | Glaciers and Snow: Financing for Mountain and Coastal Regions
10:00-10:45 | Forecast-Based Financing: A Pathway for Anticipatory Adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region
The Hindu Kush Himalaya faces rising climate extremes that threaten mountain communities, demanding a shift from reactive to proactive approaches. Forecast-based financing, guided by forecasts and risk analysis, enables anticipatory action by releasing funds ahead of crises to reduce losses. This session will discuss opportunities, challenges, and best practices of forecast-based financing, drawing on global pilots and reflecting on its relevance for building resilience in fragile mountain geographies.
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, German Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Nepal
14:00-15:15 | Cryosphere and Amazon: An Urgent Call for Climate Justice
Climate change is no longer a distant possibility; it is an imminent crisis affecting the most crucial ecosystems on our planet: the cryosphere and the Amazon. This event will bring together leaders, scientists, activists, and indigenous communities to face, together, the climate collapse we are experiencing. Through urgent action, bold strategies, and a shared vision, speakers will analyze how the intersection of these two essential ecosystems could determine the future of humanity. From the melting of the Andean glaciers to the devastation of the Amazon rainforest, this space will be the center of a discussion on how to protect what remains and take action to prevent further loss. Science meets climate justice in an event that not only informs but inspires immediate action.
Life of Pachamama, Alliance for Land, Indigenous and Environmental Defenders, Leader Network for Environmental Activists and Defenders, Fridays for Future
15:30-16:45 | Fragile Frontlines: An Atlas of Loss and Damage in the Third Pole
The session will mark the launch of Fragile Frontlines at COP30. The interactive atlas serves as a climate advocacy tool for a cryosphere in crisis, documenting cascading climate catastrophes and aiding Loss and Damage assessments under the UNFCCC. We will convene interdisciplinary stakeholders across science, design, and policy to explore both; innovative mechanisms for Loss and Damage financing and the use of foundation models and digital-twin technologies to integrate climate and social sciences, aiming for equitable disaster response and mitigation across the HKH.
Urban Justice League, Columbia Climate School, Stimson Center, ICIMOD, Columbia University
18:30-19:45 | Pakistan’s Melting Glaciers: Rising Risks for Mountain and Downstream Communities
Glaciers and seasonal snow in Pakistan’s high mountain ranges are changing quickly, driving rising risks for communities and water systems. This session will outline recent trends in glacier retreat, shifts in melt patterns, and the growing frequency of hazards such as glacial lake outburst floods and high-magnitude meltwater events. Speakers will discuss emerging research from the Indus Basin and implications for agriculture, hydropower, and disaster preparedness.
National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, ICCI
19:45 | Stories on Ice – Creative Pathways to Polar and Mountain Cryosphere Learning
This interactive 45-minute event blends storytelling, visuals, film, and LEGO exhibits to bring the Arctic, Antarctic, and Third Pole to life. Through slideshows, a short film, and the playful yet meaningful LEGO Polar Explorations Pavilion, participants engage with cryosphere heritage, science, and education. The session bridges generations, sparks informal dialogue, and connects delegates to the Polar Resource Book for practical learning resources.
Polar Educators International
Wednesday, Nov. 19 | Ice Sheets II
10:00-10:45 | Antarctic Tipping Points Outlook
Currently the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) is leading an assessment on global climate tipping points. One area of focus within this report is the cryosphere where tipping points are especially relevant in predicting the rate of global sea level rise. For this event, we will share some insights discussed in the WCRP report and define the various characteristics of tipping points related to Antarctica. This includes discussing their abruptness, irreversibility, and the impacts of extreme weather.
Université Grenoble Alpes, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), Instabilities and Thresholds in Antarctica (INSTANT) Program, Italian National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
12:30-13:45 | Pakistan’s Climate Future: Voices for Action at COP30
As the world prepares for COP30, it is crucial that Pakistan’s climate challenges and solutions are meaningfully represented at the global stage. Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing severe risks from floods, heatwaves, and water insecurity. Yet it is also a country with vibrant civil society leaders, youth advocates, and policy experts working toward resilience and sustainability. This event will bring together climate voices from Pakistan to share perspectives on adaptation, policy, and public engagement, while amplifying pathways for global solidarity and local climate action.
Climate Forward Pakistan
15:30-16:45 | International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation & Cryosphere Decade
2025 marks the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), and also the start of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Sciences; both at the initiative of glacier-rich Tajikistan. At this event, a Tajikistan scientist will present on the state of glaciers in his country, and ICCI will discuss its work on policy and communications during IYGP, as well as initial plans for the Cryosphere Decade.
Government of Tajikistan, UNESCO, ICCI
18:30-19:45 | Interactive Quiz: How Well Do you Know Earth’s Frozen Regions?
Test your knowledge in this interactive quiz led by scientists studying ice sheets, glaciers, snow, permafrost, polar oceans, and sea ice. Participants will explore the latest findings from the 2025 State of the Cryosphere Report, including the critical thresholds for ice loss in major mountain ranges at just 1°C of warming, record lows in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, accelerating permafrost carbon emissions, and ocean acidification reaching dangerous levels in polar regions. Join to engage, learn, and see how well you understand the planet’s frozen regions and their impacts on global communities.
ICCI, British Antarctic Survey, Alfred Wegener Institute, Italian National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics
19:45 | Arctic Visions: What’s happening in the Arctic?
Arctic Visions is a visual and narrative journey across the Arctic, exploring the profound transformations taking place in this fragile ecosystem. Through images, sounds, and voices of local communities, the project addresses the impacts of climate change—from melting permafrost to sea-level rise—while amplifying the perspectives of Indigenous peoples. This session tells the story of the Arctic through an artistic and creative lens, combining photography, interviews, and storytelling. Main themes include permafrost thaw, sea-level rise, and the challenges faced by Indigenous communities. At COP30, selected videos and images from the project will also be screened. This is an independent and self-sustained long-term project I have been developing since 2016, with fieldwork carried out in Iceland, Finland, Norway, Alaska (hosted by an Inuit family), Svalbard, and Greenland.
Isacco Emiliani
Thursday, Nov. 20 | Sea Ice
10:00-10:45 | The Response of Emperor Penguins to Changing Ice Conditions
Emperor penguins rely on stable fast ice around Antarctica from ~April to December for successful breeding. The decline in Antarctic sea ice since 2016 has led to breeding failure at numerous colonies. Models suggest that 98% of colonies will be extinct by 2100 under a high-warming scenario, but this can be limited to 61% if the Paris Climate Agreement targets are met and efforts are made to limit warming to 1.5°C. This event will summarize the latest science regarding emperor penguins, how they are impacted by ice changes, and policy implications.
Durham University, British Antarctic Survey, ICCI
14:00-15:15 | Latest Science on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and Impacts of Shutdown
Observations and models suggest that the AMOC is slowing down, with global implications for climate resilience and adaptation. This session brings together leading scientists and high-level government representatives to examine the emerging evidence on potential AMOC weakening and its far-reaching implications for governments in the region, as well as weather extremes, sea-level rise, marine ecosystems, and global climate stability. Chaired by Minister Johannsson of Iceland, the event features a keynote scientific overview from Professor Stefan Rahmstorf of Potsdam University, followed by perspectives from representatives of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Finland. Together, they will discuss the science, societal risks, and policy priorities required to align climate ambition with the scale of risk identified by latest findings.
Potsdam University, Government of Iceland, Government of Ireland, Government of the United Kingdom, Government of Canada, Government of Finland, ICCI
18:30-19:45 | Safeguarding the Polar Regions from Dangerous Geoengineering
Polar scientists will share the significant issues and risks inherent to five highly-publicized polar geoengineering “schemes,” ranging from technological availability, logistical feasibility, cost, predictable adverse consequences, environmental damage, scalability (in time and space), governance, and ethics. Their measured conclusion is that, given their feasibility challenges, and known as well as unknown risks of negative consequences, these ideas should not distract from the priority to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This presentation draws from a paper published in September 2025, authored by over 40 field-leading cryosphere scientists from 33 different institutions.
University of Exeter, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), ICCI
Friday, Nov. 21 | Feasible Pathways to 1.5°C Emissions Reductions
10:00-10:45 | Open Letter: An S.O.S. from the Cryosphere to World Leaders at COP30
More than a dozen organizations have issued a joint call to leaders at COP30, warning that surpassing 1.5°C could set in motion irreversible and increasingly unmanageable shifts within the climate system, with far-reaching consequences for current and future generations. Around the world, ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice are declining at unprecedented rates, and permafrost is thawing rapidly. These developments interact and compound, driving wide-ranging impacts on climate stability, ecosystems, economies, and the safety and livelihoods of communities across the globe.
The Expert Group on Biogeochemical Exchange Processes at the Sea-Ice Interfaces (BEPSII), British Antarctic Survey (BAS)
11:00-12:15 | Solar Cooking – A Pathway to Emissions Reduction and Climate Crisis Mitigation
Solar cooking improves human health, economic well-being, women’s empowerment, and the environment by promoting climate-friendly solar cooking to address the challenge of 2.1 billion people cooking with polluting fuels. Over 4 million solar cookers have been identified around the globe. Estimates indicate they are avoiding 30+ million metric tons of CO 2 emissions over their lifetime. A panel will showcase this solution and how governments can include clean cooking in their NDCs.
Solar Cookers International, Global Warming Mitigation Project (GWMP), EcoGaia, ChildFund Alliance EU Office
14:00-15:15 | Connecting Past, Present & Future: Early Career Scientist Presentations
Our team Early Career Scientists volunteering at the Cryosphere Pavilion during Week 1 will give presentations on their research and fieldwork in the cryosphere, explaining the global importance of polar ice sheets, mountain glaciers and snow, permafrost, polar oceans, and sea ice.
ICCI
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