State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

,

Antarctica Glacier Named for Glasgow Climate Negotiations at COP26

Nine glaciers in the remote Getz Region of the West Antarctic ice sheet have new names. On October 31, the proposal to rename glaciers after cities where consequential climate treaties have been signed was accepted by the Antarctic Place Naming Commission. 

A very large ship is dwarfed by an expansive ice sheet.
The Getz Region of the Antarctic ice sheet. Photo courtesy of: Pierre Dutrieux

Antarctic ice sheet researcher Heather Selley, from the University of Leeds, brought the proposal to the committee. “We saw the opportunity to mark 42 years of collaboration on international science and climate policy decision-making,” said Selley. “Having studied climate change for the best part of a decade on a personal level it feels extremely special to honor the scientific community who have put in an outstanding effort measuring present-day impacts of climate change and its predicted future evolution.”

The new names are Geneva, Rio, Berlin, Kyoto, Bali, Stockholm, Paris and, for the northernmost glacier in the sequence, Glasgow. Selley hopes that naming a glacier for the current climate talks will highlight the importance for what is at stake. “I think we need a stark reminder of what we are fighting for,” said Selley. “I hope it sends a strong message of a call for action. It will be up to the decisions and commitments made at COP26 whether the legacy of this glacier and this generation will be the moment humans stepped up.”

An illustration shows nine glaciers named after climate treaties.
The newly named glaciers of the Getz ice sheet. Image courtesy of Heather Selley.

The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest single mass of ice on Earth. Over the last 20 years it has been losing an average of 149 billion metric tons of ice per year and is a major contributor to sea level rise. The ice sheet is in peril, but Selley is optimistic that COP26 might be the turning point. “My hope is that ambitious concrete actions, timeframes and commitments will be made and, more importantly, honored,” she said. “Glasgow glacier highlights that now is the time to decide what we want the legacy of this generation to be.”

Colorful banner image over Earth with text "Open House Discover Science, October 19, 2024, 10am to 4pm

Join us on Saturday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House! Celebrate 75 years of science with us at our beautiful Palisades, NY campus. The event is free and open to everyone, with a suggested $5 donation. Learn More and RSVP

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments