You may recall from my last Blog that I mentioned two important seminars that we hosted in South Africa prior to sailing; one on Climate Change and one on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is the part of the sea around a nation’s coast that a country has to look after. Now is probably as good as opportunity as any to tell you all about them.
In Antarctica, we and the British Antarctic Survey scientists with whom we work get to see first hand the dramatic effects of change in the world’s climate. The environment in Antarctica, especially on the Antarctic Peninsula, where we do a lot of work, is very delicate and any small change in the global climate has a large effect on the environment in Antarctica.
HMS Endurance in Antarctica
The other subject that we talked about was the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The EEZ is very important to a country because it is the region in which many resources; fish, oil, gas, precious minerals and stones, can be found. A country has to look after this region very carefully so that the resources do not run out. Looking after 100’s of miles of sea can be very difficult but because the UK is an island the Royal Navy, Coastguard and other people have been looking after our EEZ for many years.
Oil Platform - NASA
It is because the Royal Navy is used to looking after our EEZ and Endurance has first hand experience of Climate Change in Antarctic that Endurance was the ideal platform to host these important talks with the support of the British High Commission in South Africa.
Climate Change Seminar in Endurance’s Hangar
Climate change affects everyone so it is important for different counties to get together like this to discuss what we can all do to help. The decisions that Governments make is a very big part of making a difference and so with the help of the British High Commission in South Africa, well respected experts were asked to talk to members of the South African Government so that they could learn a bit more about how to make a difference.
To my left is Ann Herd from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), an expert in Climate Change, and Commander Steve Kerchey RN who is an expert in looking after our EEZ
The day wasn’t just attended by adults though; children from Cape Town High School, a local South African school also came. Climate change affects everyone and everyone can do their bit; that includes children and you. The children from the school had a competition about climate change and the winners were asked to talk about what they did to make a difference. The ideas the children had were also very important and everyone listened to what they had to say.
Children from Cape Town High School at the talks
After the talks, the children had the opportunity to look around the ship and learn more about Antarctica and climate change.
How long do you think it took for this block of ice to melt?
Looking at the wildlife found in Antarctica
Touring the Ship
Everyone still has something to learn about our environment and the adults learnt as much from the children as the children learnt from the adults.
While we are in Ghana, we will be hosting more climate seminars and talks on the use of the sea, this time with the Ghanaian Navy and Government. As a country, we have been looking at our own environment and use of the sea for many years. However, Ghana is actively looking at their use of the sea and how climate change may affect it. By working together and discussing the way we do things, we will both be able to see how some of the things that we do in the UK might work in Ghana, but also how some of the things that they do in Ghana might also work in the UK.
It is going to be a very exciting time in Ghana with lots of important work going on. Members of the Ship’s Company will also be helping out at a local orphanage. I will let you know all about this and our other activities in my next Blog.
Until then; Tight Lines,
Capt Bob