UAE expedition sees effects of climate change during emotional trip to Antarctica

Record temperature of minus 11.8ºC recorded at the South Pole last month, more than 40ºC above normal

The group of 177 young environmental leaders visited Antarctica in mid to late March, when temperatures on the continent were 40°C above normal. It even rained during the trip. All photos: Athra Khamis

The members of the 2041 ClimateForce: Antarctica Expedition came from 37 countries, four of whom were from the UAE – Athra Khamis, Mahra Al Murawwi, Sayesha Dogra and Winston Cowie.

The group was led by Sir Robert Swan, who, 30 years ago, was the first man to walk to the North and South poles.

Athra Khamis was sponsored by Masdar for the trip.

Ms Khamis is a Youth 4 Sustainability Future Sustainability Leader for Masdar.

The young environmental leaders explored the area, including Deception Island, an active volcano located in the South Shetland Islands. The island, one of the only places in the world where ships can sail into the centre of a volcano, was once home to a whaling station. Photo: Athra Khamis

The trip was organized by the 2041 Foundation to allow global youth leaders to witness first hand the effects of climate change on the continent.

Winston Cowie, who is marine policy manager at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, acted as the programme’s director.

The four UAE members of the expedition travelled for 30 hours to reach the continent.

Ms Khamis said the experience was emotional because of the breath-taking beauty, but also because of the very obvious negative effect human beings have had on the continent.

Ms Khamis said the trip inspired her to step up her actions against climate change.

During the trip, Concordia station, on the Antarctic Plateau, hit a record temperature of minus 11.8°C, more than 40°C above normal.

Whaling once devastated Antarctica's whale population, but it has since recovered. An expedition led by the British Antarctic Survey counted a 55 blue Antarctic whales during a 2020 trip.

A young sustainability leader from the UAE spoke about witnessing the devastating effects of climate change in Antarctica after visiting the continent during a heatwave.

Emirati Athra Khamis, 24, spent three weeks on the frozen continent in mid-March when Concordia Station, located high on the Antarctic Plateau, hit a record temperature of -11.8ºC, more than 40ºC above the annual average.

She said the experience was emotional because of the breathtaking beauty, but also because of the very obvious negative effect human beings are having on the continent.

“The heat was extreme, unusual,” said the Emirati from Dubai, who is a Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) Future Sustainability Leader for Masdar.

Athra Khamis was among 177 young environmental leaders who took part in the expedition. Photo: Athra Khamis

“We experienced rain. At that moment, I felt terrified about what is happening. I have spent a couple of years in the climate change field but being there in the centre of it was different.”

When it rains in Antarctica, it is too dangerous for planes to land.

Ms Khamis was one of four people from the UAE, including the programme’s director, Winston Cowie, who took part in the 2041 ClimateForce: Antarctica Expedition from March 16 to 29.

The trip was organised by the 2041 Foundation, as part of a group of global youth leaders to witness first hand the effects of climate change on the continent and raise awareness of the issue.

Members of the 177-strong expedition, who came from 37 countries, visited Deception Island, an active volcano in the South Shetland Islands.

The island, one of the only places in the world where ships can sail into the centre of a volcano, was once home to a whaling station. It closed in 1931 but its footprint remains.

“There was a massive amount of whale bones still on the shore,” Ms Khamis said.

“And on another island we saw oil tanks, processing tanks, from the 19th century when they extracted the oil from the whale bones,” she said.

At the time, the practice devastated the whale population in Antarctica, although it has since recovered.

An expedition led by the British Antarctic Survey in 2020 counted 55 blue Antarctic whales.

“We saw some whales. It was just incredible. There were two sleeping on the surface next to the boat,” said Mr Cowie, who is marine policy manager at Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

The expedition was led by Sir Robert Swan, the first man, 30 years ago, to walk to both poles, which included a 900 mile journey to the south pole, the longest unassisted walk ever made on earth.

“Our team from the UAE – Athra, Mahra [Al Murawwi] and Sayesha [Dogra] – once again contributed hugely to the expedition,” he said.

“I am really proud of all of them and the UAE for its vision in being at the forefront of climate action – pursuing net-zero and hosting COP28. Over the years I think we have had 27 people from the UAE on our expeditions.

“I am really proud of all of them and what the future holds.”

UAE polar explorers mark Antarctica Day - in pictures

The UAE team, aptly named Team Zayed, to mark the Year of Zayed, were part of the Climate Force International Antarctic Expedition in 2018. With teams from more than 20 countries aboard the 'Ocean Endeavour', they learnt about climate change and witnessed first hand the effects of global warming on the continent. The expedition was led by Sir Robert Swan, the first explorer to walk to the North and South poles. Wam

Ameera Al Marzooqi, 29, the first female Emirati to visit Union Glacier, which is sometimes called the heart of Antarctica. She has visited the continent twice.

Ms Al Marzooqi plans to return to Antarctica in March 2020 to film a documentary to raise awareness about the environmental issues facing the continent.

Ameera Al Marzooqi is the first Emirati female to have visited Union Glacier, which is sometimes called the heart of Antarctica. She has been there twice, the last time to test renewable technologies.

The five men from the 1912 Robert F Scott expedition to the South Pole who died on their trek back to their ship. From left: Dr Edward Wilson, Lt Henry Bowers, Capt Robert Falcon Scott, PO Taff Evans and Capt Lawrence Oates. AP Photo

Dr Simon Cook, senior lecturer in environmental change from the University of Dundee in the laboratory on the royal research ship 'Discovery' at Discovery Point in Dundee. The 'RRS Discovery', whose work is still used by climate change scientists, was built in Dundee in 1900 for Capt Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition.

Members of the UAE team who travelled to Antarctica on board the 'Ocean Endeavour' as part of the Climate Force International Antarctic Expedition. Wam

A scientist studies the Mera glacier region of the Dudh Kosi Basin in Nepal on November 20, 2013. Two years later scientists said glaciers in the Everest region could shrink at least 70 per cent or even disappear entirely by the end of the century as a result of climate change. AFP

French flanker Yannick Nyanga leads team-mates down the Grande Motte glacier during the French rugby union team's training camp in Tignes, south-east France, before the 2015 Rugby World Cup. AFP