it s a dangerous moment for all we meet, those trying to survive at the ground zero of climate change. we re on the top of the world. we have the whole world around us. my name is olaf store. i m an artist living in longyearbyen. i have been living here for 23 years. we ve come to meet olaf and his dog boss at his studio in svalbard s capital. the archipelago s seasons and the unique arctic wilderness have been the inspiration for his life s work. the 10th of february. you have all the possible blue colours around you, day and night. and then you have the pastels coming, the yellowish lights turning a little red. later, the sun comes, and it comes
so that s also why it s important for us to share our experience. we know that the clock is ticking, but i choose to stay hopeful, actually. yeah. i can t do anything else. climate induced dangers hang over the community. if you are witnessing something, like, ringside, you are kind of also kind of obliged to reflect on it and also to act on it.within your reach or your limits. every sunday, when we gather for worship, a part of our intercessions is always about the climate change and the threats. it s something that we always spend a lot of time on. it s deeply connected with our faith in a god who created everything to be good.
and the wildlife around us. it s scary. it s climate change on fast forward. we know that the clock is ticking, but i choose to stay hopeful, actually. yeah. i can t do anything else. we want to know what s being done to save svalbard as we know it. we are testing new technology, new systems. but even here, are they really ready to give up fossil fuels in the middle of an energy crisis in europe? they haven t found the perfect substitute yet, so coal - are still here to stay. and now the war in ukraine is undermining the international fight against climate change. one of the consequences is that the official exchange with russian institutions is not possible at this time.
and the more we save, the better is our future. but the future here feels precarious, partly because of what s fuelling the local economy tourism. svalbard is attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, putting further strain on this fragile environment. huskies, once used for vital transport, now carry around the tourists here to witness this disappearing landscape. and not everyone is happy about it. it makes me a little bit sad that mining history is fading away. now, it s like a la la land for tourists. ok, let s go. my name is bentjakobsen. i m a coal miner in mine 7 in longyearbyen, norway. despite being on the front line of climate change, svalbard still relies on coal,