The 2023 Aotearoa New Zealand Sea Ice Emergency Summit

Abstract

The record low Antarctic sea ice extent observed during 2023 prompted a group of Aotearoa New Zealand researchers to organize a “Sea Ice Emergency Summit” to provide information for the media and public. The key output from the summit was a public statement - the “2023 Aotearoa New Zealand Sea Ice Emergency Statement” - that called for a “dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions now”. This was achieved through the ad hoc development of a rapid-response collaborative and communication process - as often required in emergency situations. This article reports on the motivation, process, science and initial impact of the summit.