How this group of environmentalists found hope amid a heatwave in Antarctica

The vast majority of people will never visit Antarctica. But last month, more than 160 environmental leaders and youth activists had the chance to take part in an expedition to the continent.

Zanagee Artis, founder of US youth-led activism group Zero Hour, and coordinator of Global Choices’ Arctic Angels network Emma Wilkinson are two of the people that took part.

“There were CEOs, people that work in policy, youth activists, environmental leaders. It was really a diverse and powerful group, able to create and sustain amazing positive impact,” Wilkinson tells Euronews Green.

“There was obviously that kind of international cultural and spiritual collaboration constantly.”

The ClimateForce 2041 expedition was led by Robert Swan, the first person to walk to both the North and South poles. Alongside his son, Barney, the polar explorers took this diverse group of people from 35 different countries on a journey across the Drake Passage to the west of the continent.

The purpose of the trip? To inspire meaningful action to preserve Antarctica and the rest of our planet. 

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Antarctica’s wildlife was one of the highlights of the trip for both Wilkinson and Artis.

 They were encouraged to take part in some citizen science by identifying the whales using photos of their tails, helping conservationists to understand their migration patterns.