People around the world are climbing mountains and rooftops to demand an Arctic Sanctuary © Greenpeace
The study, commissioned by Greenpeace and carried out by Canadian company RIWI, was conducted across 30 countries on six continents. It demonstrates overwhelming public support for a formally protected area in the High Arctic for mammals and other marine life.
In addition, 71 percent of those polled say they support the entire Arctic Ocean to be free of oil drilling and other types of heavy industry. This figure climbs to 75 percent in Canada.
Currently only 1.5 percent of the Arctic Ocean is protected — less than any of the other world’s oceans.
“Today, our leaders have received a strong signal that the public appetite for action on the Arctic is overwhelming and must no longer be ignored. Our leaders now have both the mandate and the opportunity to act for the health of the climate and the Arctic. The world is watching and demanding action,” said Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo.
To coincide with the release of this new study, climbers and mountaineers are climbing iconic mountain peaks and buildings all over the world throughout the day, to demand that governments respond to the global outcry to make the creation of a protected Arctic Sanctuary a top priority.
In Canada, volunteers will reach the top of iconic places in Montreal and Toronto.
“While Canada uses its chairmanship of the Arctic Council to promote big oil, while the National Energy Board approves seismic testing in Baffin Bay despite stiff opposition from coastal communities, while giant oil companies like Gazprom, Shell, Exxon, BP and Rosneft ignore climate science and get ready to profit from Arctic ice melt, the world is demanding Arctic protection, not Arctic destruction,” said Greenpeace Canada Arctic Campaigner Farrah Khan.
All 30 countries polled show that the clear majority of people either support or strongly support the creation of an Arctic Sanctuary. The strongest support for protection came from Argentina, Italy, India and South Africa, but Arctic states like the USA and Canada also went above the global average with approximately 80 percent in favour.
In the past two months, more than 900 influential people have signed on to a new high level document called the Arctic Declaration, including Canadian author Margaret Atwood, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actor Emma Thompson, and former and current environment ministers in the Arctic countries. In the coming weeks, delegations lead by Greenpeace will present these demands along with the list of signatories to Arctic States embassies all over the world.