Preserving the memory of glaciers for future generations

Theme(s)

  • Environment

Challenge

  • Preservation of ecosystems

Partners

Fondation Ice Memory

Duration

2018 – 2027

Locations

Global

Project funding

  • Didier and Martine Primat Foundation

Context

According to a CNRS study, glacier melt has accelerated over the past twenty years, retreating twice as fast as before. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, glaciers lost another 6% of their volume. With each disappearance, a part of the Earth’s memory—patiently preserved in the layers of ice accumulated over millennia—is lost forever.

It is becoming urgent to preserve these fragile archives, true scientific treasures and a shared heritage of humanity. They are essential for understanding the evolution of our climate and anticipating future changes.

Objectives

 

  • Preserve ice cores in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.
  • Establish a global environmental heritage recognized as a common good of humanity.
  • Share scientific data from the ice cores to advance research and inform political decision-making.

 

Actions

 

  • Collect ice cores from 20 glaciers over 20 years to build a scientific resource for current and future researchers.
  • Analyze these cores to reconstruct past variations in climate, environment, and atmospheric composition.
  • Store “heritage cores” long-term in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.

 

Discover the Ice Memory project in video:

 

 

 

Contexte

Context

According to a CNRS study, glacier melt has accelerated over the past twenty years, retreating twice as fast as before. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, glaciers lost another 6% of their volume. With each disappearance, a part of the Earth’s memory—patiently preserved in the layers of ice accumulated over millennia—is lost forever.

It is becoming urgent to preserve these fragile archives, true scientific treasures and a shared heritage of humanity. They are essential for understanding the evolution of our climate and anticipating future changes.

Objectives

 

  • Preserve ice cores in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.
  • Establish a global environmental heritage recognized as a common good of humanity.
  • Share scientific data from the ice cores to advance research and inform political decision-making.

 

Actions

 

  • Collect ice cores from 20 glaciers over 20 years to build a scientific resource for current and future researchers.
  • Analyze these cores to reconstruct past variations in climate, environment, and atmospheric composition.
  • Store “heritage cores” long-term in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.

 

Discover the Ice Memory project in video:

 

 

 

Fondation Didier et Martine Primat - Vivre ensemble de manière responsable et durable
© Sarah Del Ben/Wild Touch/Fondation UGA
Fondation Didier et Martine Primat - Vivre ensemble de manière responsable et durable
© Sarah Del Ben/Wild Touch/Fondation UGA
Fondation Didier et Martine Primat - Vivre ensemble de manière responsable et durable
© Sarah Del Ben/Wild Touch/Fondation UGA
© Jason Klimatsas

Contexte

Context

According to a CNRS study, glacier melt has accelerated over the past twenty years, retreating twice as fast as before. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, glaciers lost another 6% of their volume. With each disappearance, a part of the Earth’s memory—patiently preserved in the layers of ice accumulated over millennia—is lost forever.

It is becoming urgent to preserve these fragile archives, true scientific treasures and a shared heritage of humanity. They are essential for understanding the evolution of our climate and anticipating future changes.

Objectives

 

  • Preserve ice cores in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.
  • Establish a global environmental heritage recognized as a common good of humanity.
  • Share scientific data from the ice cores to advance research and inform political decision-making.

 

Actions

 

  • Collect ice cores from 20 glaciers over 20 years to build a scientific resource for current and future researchers.
  • Analyze these cores to reconstruct past variations in climate, environment, and atmospheric composition.
  • Store “heritage cores” long-term in a sanctuary in Antarctica for future generations.

 

Discover the Ice Memory project in video:

 

 

 

Partner

Fondation Ice Memory

La Fondation Ice Memory a pour objectif de collecter, sauvegarder et assurer la conservation de carottes de glace provenant de glaciers sélectionnés menacés de dégradation ou de disparition, afin de préserver les informations qu’elles renferment pour les décennies et les siècles à venir. La préservation de ces carottes de glace est essentielle pour faire progresser la science : les connaissances sur l’histoire passée du climat et de l’environnement obtenues grâce à ces archives continueront d’orienter les décisions politiques qui contribueront, en fin de compte, au bien-être de l’humanité.