Visitors stepping onto London's Trafalgar Square from 11 December could get a chill in their spines as they come face to face with a life-sized polar bear. In the Arctic, melting sea ice is threatening the polar bear's survival. In London, 'Bear In The Square' is an ice sculpture that will melt over ten days, sending out a powerful message about the impacts of climate change on the world's people and biodiversity.
Renowned animal sculptor, Mark Coreth is creating two life-sized ice sculptures of polar bears - one will be carved in London's Trafalgar Square on 11 December, the other will be located in the city of Copenhagen, where world leaders are meeting to agree how the world will tackle the growing climate crisis. The Arctic is already experiencing severe and devastating climate change and the most important step that can be taken to protect species like the polar bear is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
London's Ice Bear, which is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, will be exhibited at ground level, so that anyone visiting Trafalgar Square can get a sense of the sheer size of polar bears, and reach out and touch this iconic symbol of the Arctic.
Mark was inspired to create the ice sculpture during a recent expedition to the Baffin Island sea-ice, and explains, "The whole Arctic area is under huge threat. I want to create a sculpture that will clearly show the problems ahead. If we carve a polar bear in ice and let it melt in Trafalgar Square, then everyone can come and touch it. Everyone will become sculptors, and in doing so they will melt it. That act will be hugely symbolic of the way humanity has the power to affect the balance of nature."
Scientists now say that the Arctic Ocean will be free of ice within 20 to 30 years. However, the newest data – including data from the WWF supported Catlin Arctic Survey suggests that most of the Arctic summer sea ice may well be gone within a decade. The consequences for arctic species will be severe, removing a whole ecosystem associated with the sea ice.
WWF is calling for industrialised nations to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020; and to provide support to help developing countries deal with the impacts of climate change.
Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK says, "Thousands will see the ice bear melting before their very eyes. The impacts of climate change are being felt all over the world, but this event will bring home the immediacy of the issue and the need for urgent action by world leaders to ensure we have a fair and ambitious climate agreement."
