Dutch photographer Marte Visser traveled to Spitsbergen in May 2016, to photograph and interview six renowned scientists about climate change for the Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad. “I witnessed the devastating effect of global warming on the Arctic climate with my own eyes. The scientific community passed a very distressing message to me: Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our present and future. It creates a global conflict, which affects us all. It made me realize that The Time is Now to educate the new generation about global warming!”
The only way to change something is to question the ethics, because when we agree that economic growth and care for the earth go hand in hand, the world has won – Kim Holmén, International Director Norwegian Polar Institute
Time is Now Foundation
Back in The Netherlands, Marte enthused social entrepreneur Yvonne Lang for starting a foundation that accelerated climate change related implementations, with the emphasis on creating a paradigm shift through sustainability education. They came together on August 8th 2016, also known as Earth Overshoot Day. This day is designated to mark the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what planet earth can regenerate in that specific year. Realizing the urgency for change, it was that day that they decided: The Time is Now! Our foundation was born.
Our story continues in the Arctic
We need to release the ideas from our brains – Per Nilssen, foreman at mine 7, Spitsbergen
Marte went back to Spitsbergen in April 2017 to cover once again a story about Climate Change for Dutch newspaper Het Parool. This time she interviewed and photographed not only climate scientists, she also spoke with the fossil fuel industry. Read her story here.