Government plan to contribute to Arctic concerns

MPS LAUNCH BID TO PROTECT ARCTIC
By Emily Beament, Press Association Environment Correspondent
Climate change must be recognised as an issue when it comes to oil and gas
drilling in the Arctic, MPs said today as they launched an inquiry into
protecting the region.
The parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee will look how climate change
might open the region to new commercial activities, and what the UK Government
can do to protect the fragile wilderness.
The committee said rising global temperatures were melting the Arctic sea ice,
paving the way for a new “oil and gas gold rush” around the North Pole, as
well as opening up shipping routes and new fishing grounds.
But the potential exploitation of the Arctic is set to be highly controversial,
with environmentalists warning about the damage to the region and the climate if
activities such as drilling for new fossil fuel supplies go ahead.
Greenpeace has staged already protests against UK company Cairn Energy, which
has been looking for oil off the coast of Greenland, over concerns an oil spill
would cause major ecological damage to the Arctic and that new sources of fossil
fuels would further push up global carbon emissions.
As he marked the campaign group’s 40th anniversary in the autumn, Greenpeace
UK’s executive director John Sauven said protecting the Arctic from companies
hunting of the “last drops of oil” would be a key future environmental
battle.
Today, the Environmental Audit Committee said that while the UK had no
jurisdiction over the Arctic, the inquiry will look at how the Government could
use its influence through measures such as regulation, incentives and treaties,
to ensure the region’s development was sustainable and took account of climate
change.
The UK has observer status on on the Arctic Council, which is made up of the
eight nations ringing the Arctic, indigenous peoples and a number of observer
states.
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the five states around
the North Pole – the US, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark, through Greenland –
are able to submit bids for Arctic territory in a process set to begin in
spring.
When the process ends in 2014, successful applicants will gain resource
rights.
Joan Walley, chairwoman of the Environmental Audit Committee, said: “Rising
global temperatures – caused by the burning of fossil fuels – ironically look
set to clear the way for a new oil and gas gold rush in the Arctic.
“We will be looking at what the UK Government can do to ensure that the Arctic
is protected and whether it is even possible to drill for oil and gas safely in
such remote regions.
“Concerns over climate change should be recognised internationally as a
limiting factor on any new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.”
She added: “How the world deals with its remaining wildernesses will be a
crucial test of our civilisation’s stewardship of the planet in the 21st
century.
“Will we allow a free-for-all in the polar regions of our planet or can we
work together to protect, share and manage these areas responsibly?”
Ruth Davis, chief policy adviser to Greenpeace UK, said: “The reckless rush to
exploit Arctic oil, and the coalition Government’s blind support for it,
urgently need scrutiny.
“The oil industry has done all it can to avoid discussing the safety of
drilling in the most inhospitable conditions on the planet, where a spill would
devastate wildlife and be almost impossible to clean up.
“Hopefully this inquiry will force both the industry and the Government to
face up to the costs and risks of Arctic drilling before they are confronted by
a major spill.”S LAUNCH BID TO PROTECT ARCTIC
By Emily Beament, Press Association Environment Correspondent
Climate change must be recognised as an issue when it comes to oil and gas
drilling in the Arctic, MPs said today as they launched an inquiry into
protecting the region.
The parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee will look how climate change
might open the region to new commercial activities, and what the UK Government
can do to protect the fragile wilderness.
The committee said rising global temperatures were melting the Arctic sea ice,
paving the way for a new “oil and gas gold rush” around the North Pole, as
well as opening up shipping routes and new fishing grounds.
But the potential exploitation of the Arctic is set to be highly controversial,
with environmentalists warning about the damage to the region and the climate if
activities such as drilling for new fossil fuel supplies go ahead.
Greenpeace has staged already protests against UK company Cairn Energy, which
has been looking for oil off the coast of Greenland, over concerns an oil spill
would cause major ecological damage to the Arctic and that new sources of fossil
fuels would further push up global carbon emissions.
As he marked the campaign group’s 40th anniversary in the autumn, Greenpeace
UK’s executive director John Sauven said protecting the Arctic from companies
hunting of the “last drops of oil” would be a key future environmental
battle.
Today, the Environmental Audit Committee said that while the UK had no
jurisdiction over the Arctic, the inquiry will look at how the Government could
use its influence through measures such as regulation, incentives and treaties,
to ensure the region’s development was sustainable and took account of climate
change.
The UK has observer status on on the Arctic Council, which is made up of the
eight nations ringing the Arctic, indigenous peoples and a number of observer
states.
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the five states around
the North Pole – the US, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark, through Greenland –
are able to submit bids for Arctic territory in a process set to begin in
spring.
When the process ends in 2014, successful applicants will gain resource
rights.
Joan Walley, chairwoman of the Environmental Audit Committee, said: “Rising
global temperatures – caused by the burning of fossil fuels – ironically look
set to clear the way for a new oil and gas gold rush in the Arctic.
“We will be looking at what the UK Government can do to ensure that the Arctic
is protected and whether it is even possible to drill for oil and gas safely in
such remote regions.
“Concerns over climate change should be recognised internationally as a
limiting factor on any new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic.”
She added: “How the world deals with its remaining wildernesses will be a
crucial test of our civilisation’s stewardship of the planet in the 21st
century.
“Will we allow a free-for-all in the polar regions of our planet or can we
work together to protect, share and manage these areas responsibly?”
Ruth Davis, chief policy adviser to Greenpeace UK, said: “The reckless rush to
exploit Arctic oil, and the coalition Government’s blind support for it,
urgently need scrutiny.
“The oil industry has done all it can to avoid discussing the safety of
drilling in the most inhospitable conditions on the planet, where a spill would
devastate wildlife and be almost impossible to clean up.
“Hopefully this inquiry will force both the industry and the Government to
face up to the costs and risks of Arctic drilling before they are confronted by
a major spill.”

– Jim

Location:Home

Telling the tale

Having had a bit of a false start in getting the story out there, I’m hoping to redeem myself by revitalising this blog and making best use of it.

Newly equipped with iPad and apps I hope to make this a useful blog for anyone wanting to know anything about modern-day exploration and the life and times of a professional explorer.

Climate Change

During the Copenhagen Summit on climate change I thought I’d put across my view and that shared by our team members.

Firstly, a comment on a talk I gave at Lloyd’s of London for the catering giant Avenance:

“Climate change is one of the great challenges for business and industry currently. Jim gave our city clients an evening that challenged them, in a way that was relevant to the current climate change debate. His presentation was fascinating, engaging and inspirational. The story that led to him becoming an arctic explorer and why he continues with his research expeditions gave his presentation context, made sense of the scientific elements and really made you sit up and think. He demonstrated a resilience and endurance that would have seen most collapse under the strain of travel and performance. The man was a breath of fresh air and gave our audience a sense a being privy to something personal and special. The event was a huge success and the feedback we have received outstanding. We thank Jim and wish him continued success with his Arctic Pole Expedition in 2010.”

Chris Sprague, Managing Director, Avenance

Friends in High Places

We seem to getting all sorts of support from some really great people at the moment – all very encouraging!

I met Michael Palin, who is now the President of The Royal Geographical Society (I’ve been a Fellow since 1994) last weekend and told him all about the expedition and he very kindly sent me this message for the team:

Hi Jim,

It was all a bit mad at the Explore Weekend, but I think I promised you an endorsement for your Ice Warrior Arctic Pole Expedition.

Learning to travel the hard way is not only the best way, but it’s also the most memorable.  I greatly admire all of you for having a go – believe me you won’t forget the experience.

Good luck,

Michael Palin

Today I received an email from our Patron Sir Ranulph Fiennes for the team:

Jim informs me of just how hard you are working to get this expedition off the ground which is something, as you might imagine, I can really appreciate. The fact that I am your Patron makes me very proud so do keep up this tremendous effort. I know you will reap all the rewards in the end.

Very Best of Luck Ran

I wonder who’ll be next?

Things Hotting Up!

Perhaps I should use a better phrase, given that our remit has much to do with global warming but things are really getting busy around here. Over the last two weeks my feet have hardly touched the ground with a medical conference in Dundee about Antarctic Medicine, a Royal Geographical Conference about Exploration, a keynote speech at the Chief Fire Officers Association conference as well as numerous meetings, proposals and people to attend to. Finally I have a week to catch up with my team and progress the administration and logistics.

First Phase of Training a Fantastic Success

I’m absolutely delighted to say the Core Skills Training over here in the UK went tremendously well, as far as I was concerned – and I think everyone involved. The feedback has been great! Many, many inquisitive and intelligent questions, setting the scene, both good and bad and at the end of it happy, really motivated people. More informed and prepared for the very difficult task ahead. What more can I ask for?

Thanks indeed to Julian Morgan, Howard Jeffs, Mary Mackintosh, Nigel Smee and our marvellous host Gary for being so incredibly accommodating at Bellever YHA!

There was even a “lovely” attitude to my early morning run, exercise and dip in the river! It all augurs very well for the actual event and I feel everyone is keyed up and excited about the next phase – Polar Training in Svalbard – in winter.

Here we will be joined by our international participants – another phase entirely but meanwhile we forge on to engage everyone we can in this tremendous World First and probably one of the most important bits of citizen science ever undertaken.

The more support we can muster, the more science we can do, the more important our efforts become.

Heartfelt thanks to all!

Blog Off!

Welcome one and all! Tonight sees the start of the official Arctic Pole Expedition Blog. Written by yours truly – Jim McNeill. My pledge to you is that this will tell the tale of the expedition, as it unfolds and warts-an’-all. In other words a true account of the frustrations, elations, depressions and just about every other emotion you can think of associated with getting a major expedition up, running and completed.