John’s Polar Adventures

About the Voyage

In June 2008, 18 students from nine countries around the world will join WWF on the ‘Voyage for the Future’, a 10-day boat trip in the Arctic launching from Svalbard, Norway.

During this trip participating students will become effective advocates for climate change action. While in Norway, participants will learn about global climate change from experts in the field, take part in on-shore research activities, and receive communications and media training.

Once back home, students will work with WWF to reach out to the media and local and national policymakers to deliver the message for urgent action on this issue.

Upon completion the Ambassadors ideally will have a good understanding of:

• The WWF organization, its mission and way of operating
• The mechanisms and science of climate change to a level where they can have well founded discussion if needed. They are not to become semi-specialists on climate change with in-depth knowledge.
• The effects of global warming on and in the Arctic, Arctic feedback mechanisms, tipping points and reciprocal effects to the rest of the world.
• What this could mean for their home country
• Standpoints and solutions that WWF has on climate change; both on a local and international level
• The growing interests in the Arctic of governments and businesses (oil and gas extraction, fishery, shipping routes)
• The inherit dangers that come with these new interests
• The effects on and roles of Arctic indigenous people with respect to the above
• The work WWF does in the Arctic; its successes on animal protection, standpoints and solutions for living and working in a changing Arctic
• How politicians and business leaders take decisions and what determines the reasons for these decisions
• What happens at the G8 and COP meetings and what the Kyoto protocol is
• How to effectively communicate with target audiences (peers, media, politicians and business leaders) in an inspiring yet authentic manner
• How to use the internet in gaining support with peers