Arctic Basecamp
{{Short description|Science communication non-profit focused on climate change}}
{{Orphan|date=January 2024}}
Arctic Basecamp is a not-for-profit science outreach organisation. It was founded in 2017.{{cite web |title=We set up an Arctic basecamp at Davos 2017. Here are 5 reasons why |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/we-set-up-an-arctic-basecamp-at-davos-2017-heres-why/ |website=World Economic Forum |date=31 January 2017 |access-date=19 September 2022}} It works to promote awareness of the global risks of climate change in the Arctic to world leaders from business, policy and civil society.
World Economic Forum at Davos
Arctic Basecamp hosts an annual event at Davos alongside the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting. An expedition tent acts as its workplace during the day and its dormitory at night, with scientists and campaigners camping in sub-zero temperatures.{{cite news |title=We cozy up 'like little sardines': Meet the youth delegates camping in subzero temperatures at Davos |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/22/davos-2020-meet-the-climate-activists-camping-in-the-cold-at-davos.html |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=CNBC |date=22 January 2020}}{{cite news |title=Crashing Davos in an Arctic Tent |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-12/crashing-davos-in-an-arctic-tent |access-date=5 July 2023 |publisher=Bloomberg |date=12 January 2023}}
COP26
In 2021, Arctic Basecamp brought an iceberg from Greenland to COP26 in Glasgow to highlight climate change in the Arctic.{{cite news |title=Climate Experts Send Message to World Leaders as Melting Iceberg Arrives at COP26 |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/climate-experts-send-message-world-161234199.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGqwiMAsuJpM_02G0v2s1a__29Vv0qAhBCDV2aAlbuYj3GhWlqjzrcTgLqH1NLe1ROug85QlyNBd605JVP0XnBz2EHEAIRyOlCKeMqWSUhVIAnYOu4FKjP3wyPD60WUnIXFzS18OzK3dlIievGIV1P8YXb3zSPAZNEuBMEDCVmIB |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=Yahoo |date=5 November 2021}}
Controversies
Arctic Basecamp is funded by Quadriture Climate Group, a charity linked to fossil fuel investments.{{cite news |title=Climate groups accept millions from charity linked to fossil fuel investments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/30/climate-groups-accept-millions-from-charity-linked-to-fossil-fuel-investments-quadrature-climate-foundation |access-date=15 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=30 June 2023}} Despite the organisation's message, there is no evidence that they have influential engagement with decisionmakers.
Key people
Arctic Basecamp was founded by Professor Gail Whiteman, Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter’s Business School.{{cite web |title=Professor Gail Whiteman |url=https://business-school.exeter.ac.uk/about/people/profile/index.php?web_id=gail_whiteman |website=University of Exeter |access-date=26 July 2023}} Arctic Basecamp’s scientific advisers include Professor Julienne Stroeve, Professor of Polar Observation and Modelling at UCL, Dr Jennifer Francis, Acting Deputy Director at Woodwell Climate Research Center, Professor Alun Hubbard, a glaciologist and climate scientist at the Arctic University of Norway, Professor Jason Box, Professor of Glaciology and Climate at the Geologic Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Dr Jennifer Watts, an Assistant Scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, Dr Dmitry Yumashev, a climate policy specialist, and Dr Susana Hancock, an Arctic climate researcher.{{cite web |title=Team |url=https://arcticbasecamp.org/about-us/team/ |website=Arctic Basecamp |access-date=19 September 2022}}
Celebrities who have supported Arctic Basecamp’s work include Rainn Wilson{{cite news |title=Iceberg brought to Cop26 by climate scientists and actor Rainn Wilson |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-11-04/iceberg-brought-to-cop26-by-climate-scientists-and-actor-rainn-wilson |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=ITV News |date=5 November 2021}} who is a member of the Advisory Board of Arctic Basecamp,{{cite web |title=Board |url=https://arcticbasecamp.org/about-us/advisory-board/ |website=Arctic Basecamp |access-date=19 September 2022}} Greta Thunberg, Ellie Goulding, Lily Cole,{{cite news |title=Lily Cole Has Swapped The Catwalk For Climate Strikes, Carbon Offsetting And Cautious Optimism |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/lily-cole-davos |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=British Vogue}} Billie Eilish,{{cite news |title=Billie Eilish and Rainn Wilson call for 'urgent action' from world leaders ahead of UN Cop26 climate summit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/billie-eilish-rainn-wilson-climate-crisis-cop26-b1946177.html |access-date=19 September 2022 |work=The Independent |date=27 October 2021}} Robert Downey Jr., and Chuck Tatham.
==Arctic Risk Platform==
In 2022, Arctic Basecamp launched the Arctic Risk Platform, a website publishing live scientific data from the Arctic.{{cite news |title=Arctic Risk Platform launched at Davos 2022 |url=https://arcticportal.org/ap-library/news/2845-arctic-risk-platform-launched-at-davos-2022 |access-date=19 September 2022 |publisher=Arctic Portal |date=24 May 2022}}