SCAR at COP29, 11-22 November 2024

UNFCCC Official Side Event: “A Message from the Frozen World”

• Tuesday, 12 November
• Time: 16:45-18:15 AZT (12:45-14:15 UTC)

SCAR is co-hosting the UNFCCC side event titled “A Message from the Frozen World – the Global Impact of a Changing Cryosphere.” With Norway’s Prime Minister J. Gahr Støre  delivering recorded opening remarks, this event will address the global repercussions of ice sheet and glacier loss, illustrating the urgency of curbing emissions to protect polar ecosystems and communities worldwide.

Watch the livestream here.

International Science Council (ISC) Side Event: “Climate Science: Key Takeaways for 2024”

• Tuesday, 12 November
• Time: 16:45-18:15 AZT (12:45-14:15 UTC)

The International Science Council (ISC), in collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), will present a synthesis of recent climate science findings essential for global policymakers. The event will feature ISC CEO Salvatore Aricò and Johan Rockström, with insights from a diverse panel including Mari Sundli Tveit (Science Europe), Peter Thorne (Global Climate Observing System), and Rachel Huxley (Wellcome Trust).

Cryosphere Pavilion Events

The Cryosphere Pavilion, organised by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) in partnership with Chile and Iceland, will feature SCAR in a series of critical discussions and presentations. Now in its fifth year, the Pavilion serves as a vital forum for polar, mountain, and coastal nations affected by cryosphere loss.

SCAR-Hosted Sessions at the Cryosphere Pavilion:

• Tuesday, 19 November
  • 11:30 – Future Sea Level Rise from Antarctica
    Presented in collaboration with the Italian National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, this session will delve into the implications of Antarctic ice melt on global sea levels.
  • 14:30 – International Polar Year 2032-33
    In a joint event with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), SCAR will discuss plans for the upcoming International Polar Year 2032-33 (IPY), focusing on international collaboration for polar research.

SCAR will contribute to a series of thematic days at the Cryosphere Pavilion that address various aspects of polar and mountain ice loss and its impact on the planet:

• Week 1 Focus Days
  • Monday, 11 November – High-level Events / Early Career Scientist Presentations
  • Tuesday, 12 November – High-level Events / Hope for the Cryosphere: Feasible Pathways to 1.5°C
  • Wednesday, 13 November – Ice Sheets & Sea-level Rise
  • Thursday, 14 November – Sea Ice
  • Friday, 15 November – Polar Oceans
  • Saturday, 16 November – Mountain Glaciers and Snow
• Week 2 Focus Days
  • Monday, 18 November – Permafrost
  • Tuesday, 19 November – Ice Sheets & Sea-level Rise
  • Wednesday, 20 November – Mountain Glaciers and Snow
  • Thursday, 21 November – Mountain Glaciers and Snow
  • Friday, 22 November – Cryosphere Myth-busting

The full event schedule, including a livestream link for Cryosphere Pavilion events, is available online.

Published on 12th November by ICCI, the State of the Cryosphere 2024 – Lost Ice, Global Damage report, authored by over 50 leading cryosphere scientists, warns of severe economic and environmental threats posed by accelerating ice loss worldwide. According to the report, current climate pledges, which allow for over 2°C of warming, risk irreversible damage to billions, including catastrophic sea-level rise and water scarcity beyond adaptation limits. This urgent assessment underscores the need for stronger climate action to prevent the far-reaching impacts of global ice melt.

BEPSII-Hosted Events at COP29

The Biogeochemical Exchange Processes at the Sea-Ice Interfaces (BEPSII) Expert Group is engaging in various events at the Cryosphere Pavilion, showcasing the critical role of sea-ice biogeochemistry in oceanic and climate systems. 

• Thursday, 14 November
  • 10:30 – Ocean Pavilion
    A BEPSII panel moderated by co-chair Letizia Tedesco, featuring co-chair Jacqueline Stefels, will address key issues in sea-ice ecosystems and biogeochemical exchange, underscoring how these processes affect broader marine and atmospheric dynamics.
  • 13:00 – Cryosphere Pavilion
    In a session moderated by Jacqueline Stefels, BEPSII highlights the importance of sea-ice ecosystems and biogeochemistry for the Southern Ocean food web, illuminating the ecological interconnectedness of these fragile regions.

• Friday, 15 November
  • 13:00 – Cryosphere Pavilion
    BEPSII’s dedicated session, moderated by co-chair Letizia Tedesco and led by Jacqueline Stefels, will explore the latest research on biogeochemical processes within the sea-ice environment, emphasizing the necessity of protecting these vulnerable systems in the face of climate change.