GOTHENBURG, Sweden,
Oct. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the
30 years of the prize, the jury has often selected prize-winners
whose research has proven to be vital in shaping the modern
sustainability agenda. Terry Chapin
is no exception to this rule. As an Ecology Professor at the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, he has
spent long periods in the tundra of Siberia and Alaska, studying processes that we now know
can have dramatic effects on the global climate. For the past 10
years he has been linking his knowledge of ecology to ethics,
creating the concept of Earth Stewardship.
Decades ago, only a few scientists, including Terry Chapin, began to understand the impact of
climate change on the carbon-rich tundra, permafrost and boreal
forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Says Terry Chapin:
- Climate change happens twice as fast in Alaska and in the rest of the Arctic as for
the globe as a whole. And since Alaska is so sensitive to temperature, this is
where processes are going to be most affected.
It is already happening. Wildfires have always occurred in the
Alaskan wilderness, but the past decade they have increased
dramatically. The wildfires are larger and more frequent, due to
warmer temperatures and drier weather conditions. That is why the
city of Fairbanks, Alaska, located
in pristine wilderness and far away from polluting industries, can
for weeks have some of the worst air quality found anywhere on
Earth when nearby wildfires spread their vast plumes of smoke.
Scientists at the University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, are closely monitoring the changes that are
occurring in the frozen ground. Thawing releases carbon under
anaerobic conditions to emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. No
one knows for sure how fast the process is, but effects could be
dramatic. Permafrost in the Arctic alone is estimated to hold
nearly twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere. Releasing
only a part of this frozen carbon would overwhelm several decades
of human emissions from our vehicles, industries, powerplants,
ships and airplanes.
During his many years of research on the effects of Arctic
climate change, Terry Chapin has
cooperated closely with indigenous communities in Alaska, and is inspired by them.
- Indigenous people have a wonderful tradition and history of
relating to the land, because they absolutely depend on it for
survival. There is an ethic of respect that has been lost, to some
degree, in Western societies.
He believes that it is important to relearn the ethics of
respect for nature and the land. Terry
Chapin has developed the concept of what he calls Earth
Stewardship for the relationship between people and nature. It is a
set of guiding principles on ecology and ethics aimed at preserving
biodiversity and the planetary life support system by acting
responsibly, very often on local levels. He is optimistic that
grass roots movements can trigger changes in life styles, reducing
environmental footprints and supporting climate-friendly businesses
and legislation.
- In the last 70 years we have reached Earth-changing levels of
human activity. This is one of the reasons I think that Earth
Stewardship is so important. It's a chance to reshape the future
path that humanity will take.
The motivation of the jury of the Volvo Environment Prize
Foundation:
"Throughout his decades-long career in ecosystems research and
global change, Professor Terry
Chapin has worked tirelessly with people and for the planet.
His work will have a long-lasting impact on the ways we seek to
build a sustainable future, with the concept of Earth Stewardship
supporting the deep institutional and structural change required to
meet the challenges ahead. "
For more information about the Volvo Environment Prize and
this year's winner, please contact Chairman of the Jury, Emeritus
Professor Will Steffen, Fenner School of Environment and Society,
Australian National University,
e-mail: will.steffen@anu.edu.au
The Volvo Environment Prize celebrates its 30th anniversary and
has become one of the world's most prestigious environmental
prizes. It is awarded annually to people who have made outstanding
scientific discoveries within the area of the environment and
sustainable development. The prize consists of a diploma, a glass
sculpture and a cash sum of SEK 1.5
million and will be presented at a ceremony in Stockholm on 7 November
2019.
For more information about the 2019 laureate and the Volvo
Environment Prize: www.environment-prize.com
Emeritus Ecology Professor Stuart "Terry" Chapin III,
University of Alaska, Fairbanks,
USA is the winner of the Volvo
Environment Prize 2019. Photo: Tore
Marklund
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