The 2023 Aotearoa New Zealand Sea Ice Emergency Summit

• Main Authors: Robinson, Natalie, Stevens, Craig, Rack, Wolfang, Bowen, Melissa, Chapman, Ralph, Cummings, Vonda, Dean, Sam, Fernandez, Denise, Keller, Liz, McDonald, Adrian, Pauling, Andrew, van Uitregt, Vincent
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Victoria University of Wellington Library 2024
• Subjects: Antarctica; sea ice; climate change; science communication; climate emergency; Antarc*; Antarctic; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/nzsr/article/view/8461

The record low Antarctic sea ice extent observed during 2023 prompted a group of Aotearoa New Zealand researchers to organize a “Sea Ice Emergency Summit” to provide information for the media and public. The key output from the summit was a public statement - the “2023 Aotearoa New Zealand Sea Ice Emergency Statement” - that called for a “dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions now”. This was achieved through the ad hoc development of a rapid-response collaborative and communication process - as often required in emergency situations. This article reports on the motivation, process, science and initial impact of the summit.