Arctic Symposium

[posted on 27 September 2007]

During the first part of September 2007, on the ship Fram and on frequent landfalls on the western coast of Greenland, a large group consisting of religious leaders from various faiths, scientists and conservationists, politicians and the press debated the rapid advancement of climate change and its impacts on the globe and on its peoples.

Led by HAH The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, under whose enlightened initiative the Arctic Symposium was organized, this diverse group of people was shocked by the worsening situation in the fragile Arctic region, due to the increase of temperatures on land and the sea, the rapid melting of the glaciers, the increase of acidity in the oceans, the growing pollution concentrating in the food chain and the dramatic impacts of these phenomena on the life style and culture, the health and the genetic balance of the indigenous Inuit peoples.

Through their common experience of the situation, the interesting papers presented and the debates that followed, unanimous conclusions were reached, which can be summarized as follows:

-  Climate change is a reality and it is due largely to human activities.

-  Climate change is advancing much more rapidly than expected and its dramatic results are evident and being felt globally.

-   Drastically curbing the greenhouse gases is a top priority, but also mitigation and adaptation measures are required to limit the catastrophic impacts that will be felt primarily by indigenous populations and the disadvantaged.

-   Increasing substantially the efficiency in the use of energy and decreasing its consumption and its production from fossil fuels, as well as a revised model of life in the more affluent countries, is already necessary.

According to the advice of Patriarch Bartholomew, all human beings must realize that they bear personal and collective responsibility in stopping the destruction of the earth’s natural systems and in contributing to the harmony of the Creation.

(Med-INA participated in the Arctic Symposium through its Director.)