Arctic Angels: “Our wings on the Arctic”

This article is published in Vanity Fair issue 30-31 on newsstands until August 3, 2021

They are women and girls from all over the world, they are under 35 and have an evocative name: Arctic Angels, the angels of the Arctic. Their mission is to save the planet’s ice from the consequences of climate change and the continuing growth of global average temperatures. The Arctic Angels are a network of thirty young leaders from 21 countries, organized by the association Global Choices based in Colorado.

“We have decided to take the fate of the planet into our own hands,” he explains Veronika Bastl, originally from Polzela (Slovenia), but currently a Reykjavik, where he closely observed the impacts of environmental alterations on Iceland’s largest glacier, Vatnaj kull. «Climate change is the biggest problem for everyone. The glaciers and the ice caps are our last bulwark, defending them means protecting us from huge catastrophes ».

The “angels” work in schools, with local communities, on social networks. They put pressure on political groups and the media to keep the commitments established by the Paris Agreement (which in 2015 set the goal of limiting the increase in the global average temperature to within the threshold of 1.5 ° C) and to legislate for protect glacial environments from mining extraction and reckless tourism. Not all of them come from the cold. On the contrary. Evelyn Acham is an “angel of the arctic” but lives in Kampala, Uganda, which is exactly on the equatorial line, very far from the poles.

«Africa is among the regions that suffer the most from the effects of change
climate, with prolonged droughts, devastating floods and heat waves that cost thousands of lives. Ice is our global conditioner ». As evidence of their statements, during the conversation they cite the studies of the IPCC, the panel on climate change created by governments around the world. The evidence is not lacking. Just remember the record temperatures recorded in Vancouver in Canada with almost 50 ° C or 35 ° C in July in Lapland far beyond the Arctic Circle to realize why.
so the Arctic Angels go out of their way to make themselves heard. In the coming years the impact will be even greater, affecting especially the weakest populations, explains Sara Pineda from Mexico City, another city certainly not known for its polar temperatures: “Stopping the melting of glaciers is a question of social justice and an obligation towards future generations “.

If the metaphor of “female angels” may seem stereotyped, the Arctic Angels clearly explain why environmental commitment is also a female issue. “It is mainly women who are victims of climate disasters”, explains Evelyn from her room in Kampala, “especially in Africa, where a lot of them have to walk long distances in search of water and food for their families, exposing them among the other to the risk of violence and kidnappings. Climate is the main driver of poverty growth on the continent. When the drought strikes, bringing agricultural communities to their knees, it is the youngest girls who are sold to raise some money ».

According to United Nations estimates, around 80 per cent of so-called ‘climate refugees’ are women. Large majority of those most affected, large minority within the climate negotiations, which this year are expected in Glasgow for a conference hopefully decisive for the implementation of theParis Agreement: “Among those who have an important role in those meetings, women are less than 30 percent,” says Sara. “It’s important to surround yourself with women, especially where important decisions are made. I come from an extremely macho, macho country, Mexico, where female empathy and compassion have no place. And the consequences are seen. We women understand more easily how important the value of education and connection between human beings are ».

“If we want to tackle the climate issue, we have to change our perspective. We are part of nature: when we talk about nature we talk about ourselves, we talk about our survival», Continues Veronika, who grew up in the Slovenian woods and is now in love with the Icelandic outdoors. The theme of education is central. Too often nature and economic development are juxtaposed, ignoring that without an environmental balance there is no prosperity. “Many angels work with children in schools to teach about climate change, to explain why the ice that is so far away from us plays a crucial role in everyone’s life and why acting for the climate means ensuring a better life and richer to the entire planet, ”explains Evelyn.

“Whoever has the knowledge often decides to act, offers to work together to solve the problem.” But how to convince those who still do not believe in climate change or are too pessimistic about the possibility of stopping it? «We have to tell stories that offer concrete solutions that directly involve people. We need a new imagination, a new vision of the future. “Let’s shape a narrative of a better world!”exclaims Sara, who reiterates how facing this challenge represents a great opportunity for innovation and collective collaboration for a better quality of life. Today we cannot remain on the sidelines. Who can support the Global Choices Arctic Angels network? Anyone who wants to be part of a network of great women! », Replies the Mexican activist. “Vanity Fair readers can contact us, consult the globalchoices.org site, become agents of change themselves,” continues the Mexican activist. The first Italian angel arrived just in these days. On the other hand, when there is a need to save the world, why withdraw?

Photo PAOLO VERZONE

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