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Good Day All

Robert will be here for only one day on 15th Dec.

He will be giving an inspirational talk about Antarctica and Leadership. Please tell all your friends and colleagues. All are welcome. Details as follows:

Voyage for Cleaner Energy

Free Lecture by renowned Polar Explorer

7pm on 15 Dec. @ Tietgen Kollegiet

Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, Entrance 16

Nearest tube station is Islands Brygge or University. Be inspired by Antarctica and Professor ROBERT SWAN O.B.E.

I hope you will all be able to join us.

Kind regards,

Laura

A very fresh misty morning broke upon the day. We’re berthed here at Nyhavn, a picturesque and colourful waterfront, canal and popular entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. The canal is packed with old wooden ships and lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and numerous bars, cafés and restaurants, and serves as a heritage harbour. The weather isn’t so inviting as to encourage much general strolling and meandering along. People seem to prefer the warmth of a side café, snuggling under a heated umbrella, covered by a sheepskin rug sipping on their Grogg. Cant say I blame them.

Those who are here for the COP15 seem to be buzzing around trying to be at three events at once. The exhibits at the Bella Centre have also proved very informative. Ranging from alternative energy studies such as using seaweed as biodiesel, ethanol and paper. Gas union, nuclear plants, fight against deforestation, transport associations, Christian & Charity organizations, Climate studies, aviation, Universities, and various countries all on show.

Back in the city, ESA’s Inauguration ceremony – Understanding Climate Change from Space – was another eye opener and very interesting to see how from even such a great distance these changes are perceptible. It’s fascinating how from space humans can measure the carbon effect, ocean warming, sea ice reduction and possible predictions for the future. Perhaps if we saw the whole of the bigger picture….

‘Earth seen from space is an extraordinarily beautiful place. Orbiting around our globe, its colour changes continuously from blue, to white, to green, to red and yellow and then to thousands of dots of light from cities on the night side. But at the horizon, where the deep black of space begins, there is a thin layer, which shines stunningly in red and orange at times when the Sun moves behind it – our atmosphere. It looks so fragile, and one thinks: there within this tiny layer, is the only place in the universe where humans can live, outside of a spaceship. One day it might be different, but until then – we must all of us together take care of this atmosphere and our beautiful planet!’ – Chris Fuglesang, ESA astronaught.

As the Climate Conference continues and the facts keep rolling from every angle, one thing remains firmly imprinted; The time to act is Now! The Polar ice core Project, & NEEM talk given by a panel of 5 leading scientists in their fields at the Bella Centre had the following spine chilling facts (and this wasn’t because it was 0 degrees outside!) Yes, our planet is naturally warming according to studies ranging back over to the age of the dinosaurs, we are coming out of an Ice Age, BUT the current rate at which it is warming is directly associated with our actions. There is a 3mm rise in water level per annum which is already higher than it should be. If we continue at the rate we’re going, it’s estimated that this will increase to 15-20mm p/a by 2020. This will be due to more fresh water in the ocean and thermal expansion of sea water heating. 80% of the excess heat due to global warming is stored in the ocean. Also, if CO2 emissions continue to stay above 320ppm, ice sheets will continue to decrease at a very rapid rate directly influencing sea levels to rise by 18 – 59/76cm per century! This will lead to irretrievable loss of ice sheets which might enhance future long term warming.

This is if we don’t DO anything. According to these scientists, Geo-engineering can help change the current effects. We can do it – the world has enough energy resources to sustain our current energy demand – Danish Climate Council.

“The world is changing, if we don’t change our ways things will be very traumatic” – Gilles Ramstein, Dynamics of the Earth System and the Ice-core Record

2041 at COP15

On the eve of the United Nations Climate Conference, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) opened their Hard Rain exhibition. Striking photographic images set to Bob Dylan’s powerful, prophetic song, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, is set to become the unofficial soundtrack to the Copenhagen climate talks. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: “The dark and evocative lyrics of A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall echo the kind of impacts the world faces if climate change continues unchecked. But Bob Dylan had another song. One that reflects a strong and positive Copenhagen outcome that puts the world on a low-carbon path – ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

The walls of the maze are made from cloth banners stamped and signed by thousands of citizens around the world in support of the UN-led Seal the Deal! campaign, which asks world leaders to conclude a fair and effective climate agreement in Copenhagen. Complementing the Hard Rain commentary, the maze also contains climate change facts from UNEP in order to raise awareness about climate change.

‘We have to give governments a constituency to reinvent the modern world so that it’s compatible with nature and human nature,” says Mark Edwards. “Political change comes only when people form a movement so large and inclusive that governments have no choice but to listen – and act. The last verse of Dylan’s song begins ‘What’ll you do now?’ It’s a question that cannot be left hanging when the Copenhagen talks come to a close.”

Further up from the Kongens Nytorv to the City Hall is the Klima Forum and WWF Arctic exhibitions. Part of the WWF’s statement is the Bear in the Square. A life sized polar bear made of ice. All are invited to touch the sculpture, as time passes and the heat from all the touching hands melt the ice, a graphic skeleton emerges, a harsh reminder that this could be not just the great bear’s future but ours if we don’t act now.

Brave yacht 2041 and crew are here as observers to the COP15 conference. To inform people of Antarctica’s claim and plight as the last known wilderness on earth. To inspire all, by showing that if it’s possible to use alternative sustainable energy in awkward and hostile conditions why not at home? We CAN make a difference.

Everyone seems to be focusing on the Arctic and Greenland melting. Antarctica is just as important. She holds 90% of the worlds ice and 70% of the worlds fresh water. She is melting twice as fast as previously anticipated. The last 50 years, temperature has gone up by 3 degrees. Further studies show that in the Antarctic Peninsula, temperatures are rising at one of the fastest rates anywhere on Earth. It has been 10,000 years since the ice shelves have been as small as they are today. It is anticipated that if she continues to melt sea level will rise 2-5 meters by 2020.

Looking at the overall picture, Climate Change is Real all over the globe. The time to act is now, no matter who or where we come from. We will be attending various panel discussions, presentations and events hosted by world leaders, leading scientists, alternative energy initiatives, NGO’s, all informing, focusing on and encouraging ‘Copenhagen to Seal the Deal!’

2041

Good Day All ~

We look forward to welcoming you all onboard the brave yacht ‘2041’!

Please do not hesitate to contact, Laura Beyers, Yacht Manager, laura@2041.com DK Mobile: +45 52745503

7 Dec Mon COP15 Summit begins Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030 – 3pm Yacht in Nyhavn, berth 114 – (on the south bank at the far end of the canal from the square)

8 Dec Tue Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030 – 3pm

9 Dec Wed Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am – 3pm

6pm 2041 to participate in the candle vigil with AVAAZ.org partnering with 350.org, Tcktcktck, WWF etc. – Our message is clear: at the Copenhagen climate summit, the world wants a real deal!

10 Dec Thu Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am- -3pm

11 Dec Fri Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am – 3pm

12 Dec Sat Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am- 3pm

13 Dec Sun Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am- 3pm

14 Dec Mon Yacht in COP – Open to public 1030am – 3pm

15 Dec Tue Yacht in COP

Yacht closed to public – private event

16 Dec Wed Yacht in COP

Yacht depart midday for Kiel