After 100 days on the ice, the Adventure Ecology, Top of the World Arctic expedition team has been forced to make their toughest decision yet. Late on Thursday afternoon, Eastern Daylight Time, 8th June 2006, after a series of highly emotional discussions the team agreed to end the expedition. After being hampered by a series of weather and resupply delays, alongside rapidly deteriorating ice conditions (which can be attributed to the unusually warm temperatures and the shift from winter to summer sea ice) the team had to face up to the long term reality of not only finishing within a reasonable time period but more importantly having the ability to get off the ice safely should it have been required.
Since its launch three months ago the Adventure Ecology website has received almost 2 million hits, we have received numerous letters of support from all around the world, from young and old all of whom have not only helped inspire the team but reconfirmed the importance for Adventure Ecology to keep pushing forward with its work and the ‘mission possible campaign against climate change. Now the real mission begins - communicating what the team has seen and more importantly promoting how to take positive actions so as to become part of the solution not just the problem.
David reported this morning "Now that I’m back at home safely it’s crystal clear in my mind what I left behind is a rapidly dying ecosystem. Over the last 100 days I’ve had the unique privilege to call the Arctic Ocean my home. This opportunity has given me a first hand glimpse at the truly devastating effects of global warming and climate change. It's fair to say that most eco systems are usually very capable of maintaining themselves but like everything in life there is always a breaking point when you push things too far, the same applies to the Arctic.
Prior to this expedition I don't think I had truly grasped the sensitivity of our climate systems. The bottom line is they are littered with a multitude of tipping points and feedback loops which when crossed replace the so called 'slow creep' of environmental decay with a sudden and self perpetuating collapse.
In my eyes the debate is over! Climate change exists. The fact that we couldn’t get any further reinforces the point! If we are to have any chance of creating a sustainable future now's the time to stop talking and start acting and that is exactly what Adventure Ecology plans to do."
One thing that Adventure Ecology understands is the power of team work and therefore would like to thank everyone in our network who has not only made Mission 1 (Top of the World expedition) possible but a success. With extra special thanks to: Matthew at Sky; Shane at The Royal Geographical Society; Deborah at Pierre Marcolini; Duncan and Will at Fuji; Abel at Bell Pottinger; Jennie, Jeremy and Verity at Nikon; Giles and Mark at Lifeventure; Alain and Jean at International Polar Foundation; Dan at Kenn Borek Air; Jonah and McArthur at Free Range Graphics; Sylvia and Katie, for all your support, effort and kindness over the last few months, without it, none of what we have achieved to date and all that is still to come would have been possible. Thank you.
There’s plenty of unseen footage, photography and stories still to come from Mission 1, so don’t be a stranger, please continue to check in on the website for the latest news on Adventure Ecology's expedition series, Mission 2 and upcoming events or email us info@adventureecology.com
Thank you,
The Adventure Ecology team
