After a warm welcoming speech by Dr. Pichai Sonchaeng, President of the National Science Museum, THAILAND, the Ambassador of Norway to Thailand, H.E. Katja Nordgaard, and Thailand’s Minister of Science and Technology, H.E. Plodprasop Suraswadi, made their keynote speeches concerning the imminence threats of climate change, the global importance of the Polar Regions and the friendly relationship between Thailand and Norway. The invitees came from near and far, representing the diplomatic corps, the Thai Academic circles, Norwegian companies and representatives of the media.
One of the main messages brought by the exhibition is that local, national and regional environmental degradation all have global consequences in the long run. For example, greenhouse gas emissions and pollution originating in distant parts of the world are having impacts in the Polar Regions, which again can lead to dramatic consequences in every corner of the globe. If the ice melts by 20 per cent in Greenland and 5 per cent in Antarctica at the same time, the sea level will rise by 4 to 5 metres. Needless to say, small islands in the Pacific, Caribbean, and in the Indian Ocean are all at high risk of becoming washed away. Also countries like the Netherlands and Bangladesh, and cities and coastal infrastructure in many other countries, such as Thailand, could be affected negatively.
Knowledge about the Arctic climate is important for global climate policy and for taking the decisions needed to reduce global warming. Knowledge gained in the Arctic is already of crucial importance for understanding the functioning of the climate system at global as well as regional level.
The exhibition, “Polar Norway – The White Adventure” also showcases some environmental and climate change related technology solutions from leading Norwegian companies, such as Yara, Carbon Reduction Technology, Jotun, AquaFence and Telenor. The private sector has a key role to play when it comes to combating climate change – both by changing the way they conduct their business, but most importantly by inventing new and innovative solutions and technology to meet future challenges.
To learn more about the history of the Polar Regions and climate change, please visit the “Polar Norway” Exhibition at NSM Science Square, 4th Floor, Chamchuree Square, Bangkok.