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It’s no secret that our polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. This is thanks to global warming and the downright sad realities of a world in which climate change doesn’t seem to be at the forefront of international policymaking.
The news of climate change becomes more disheartening day by day. Recent reports suggest that the world’s natural disasters will get increasingly catastrophic the longer climate change remedies are ignored. Hurricanes, tsunamis, and droughts will cause more damage than ever thought possible.
Stefan Forster, a landscape photographer from Switzerland, recently got up close and personal with the ice caps. In a beautifully dramatic montage, Forster gives us a 360° view of Greenland and its quickly melting icebergs.
Of the stunning country and his footage, Forster had the following to say:
“Today, quiet and untouched places are becoming more andmore rare. On my first visit to Greenland, I was fascinated by the incrediblepower of nature that can be felt everywhere.
But during the last years, things have changed.
Glaciers I’m visiting every year are retreating not meters but kilometers a year. There is nothing more beautiful than an iceberg – everyone is unique and the light reflecting from its surface is magical.
It’s sad how close beauty and decay can be seen in an iceberg. This movie is an appreciation to the ice – for me, the most amazing aggregate state of water.”
Stefan Forster, Vimeo
Climate change may be difficult to wrap our heads around because its effects are not always immediately felt. But the melting ice caps alone account for a significant amount of the harmful impacts of climate change. Melting ice causes sea levels to rise. A rising sea level acts as a global warming aggressor and precipitation increaser. Already violent weather patterns will only worsen, and some coastal cities around the world may even soon be completely submerged.
This is not all discouraging though. There are simple ways every individual can take part in preventing global warming.
Power your home with renewable energy such as wind or solar options. Weatherize your living spaces by sealing window drafts and turning off heat or air conditioning units when they’re not absolutely necessary. Take shorter showers, buy LED light bulbs, and make an effort to walk or ride your bike around town when you’re able. Though these changes sound small, they make up for huge positive differences in the long run.
May Forster’s film be a reminder that Earth’s resources and natural beauties are fleeting. So let’s protect them while we can. Though the video is simply shot after shot of icebergs and water, it’s incredibly poignant. A moving ode to the ice of Greenland.
How can farms help solve our looming environmental crisis? Click here to find out.
