{"id":29294,"date":"2012-01-21T10:17:14","date_gmt":"2012-01-21T08:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=29294"},"modified":"2012-01-21T13:46:51","modified_gmt":"2012-01-21T11:46:51","slug":"cape-town-to-lead-world-on-climate-change-with-new-polaris-observatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/cape-town-to-lead-world-on-climate-change-with-new-polaris-observatory\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Town to lead world on Climate Change, with new Polaris Observatory"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>When Prince Albert II and Princess Charl\u00e8ne of Monaco visited Cape Town after the COP17 World Climate Change Conference <\/a><\/span><\/strong>in Durban last month, the reason for their visit was not widely reported. \u00a0Now it has been reported by the Weekend Argus<\/strong> that they were in the city to announce the establishment of the Polaris Climate Change Observatory in the V&A Waterfront, with Prince Albert its Patron, <\/strong>and that Cape Town had won the preferred host choice for this prestigious and vitally important observatory, an important tourism plus for the city.<\/p>\n

Conceptualised by the International Polar Foundation, the Polaris Climate Change Observatory is the first of its kind in the world, and is scheduled to open in 2014. \u00a0The Observatory will be a showcase of the key drivers of climate change, and alternative energy uses for the future. \u00a0The International Polar Foundation receives funds from the Prince Albert II Foundation, which the Prince established five years ago to focus on the sustainable development and protection of the environment, especially in the polar regions. The Prince has visited both the South and North Poles. \u00a0The Polaris Climate Change Observatory will educate and inform visitors about the climate change research being conducted in the Antarctic. \u00a0Further sponsors are UNESCO, World \"\"<\/a>Climate Change Programme, World Meteorological Organization, and the International Council for Science.<\/p>\n

The Polaris Climate Change Observatory is to be located on the Collier Jetty in the commercial harbour, which was built more than 110 years ago as a coal and grain trading store, and the building has achieved heritage status. \u00a0 The new Observatory building will be designed to become a ‘visual landmark<\/em>‘ for Cape Town, which will have excellent views over the Waterfront towards Table Mountain and the city centre, said V&A Waterfront CEO David Green, the new building ‘layering history, industry, commerce and tourism<\/em>‘. \u00a0He added that the project will enhance the commercial fishing and harbour facilities, rather than being a threat to them. \u00a0The building has been designed by local GAPP Architects in conjunction with German concept design bureau Atelier Br\u00fcckner. Tying in with the polar theme, the building design will resemble that of \u00a0a ‘giant tabular iceberg, surrounded by water on all sides and depicting a melting ice block as a result of climate change’<\/em>. \u00a0The iceberg, the planet and the ice-core are three symbolic symbols which will be represented.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Space will be developed to allow students to participate in the Class Zero Emission educational programme, and allows for interactive performances, film festivals, conferences, exhibitions, and functions. Climate change is the most complex challenge facing the 21st century, says the Polaris Observatory document. \u00a0The main objectives of the Observatory are as follows:<\/p>\n

\u2014 “A showcase of the science unwrapping climate complexities<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 A place where innovations towards a low-carbon economy can be explored<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 A venue for bringing together policy-makers, civil society and industry<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 A centre for the promotion of scientific education as a tool for progress”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Polaris Climate Change Observatory will become an exciting new world class design, educational and tourism addition to the Cape Town asset portfolio, to open in the year in which Cape Town is the World Design Capital 2014. <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Polaris Climate Change Observatory<\/strong>:\u00a0http:\/\/www.polarfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/a> Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Prince Albert II and Princess Charl\u00e8ne of Monaco visited Cape Town after the COP17 World Climate Change Conference in Durban last month, the reason for their visit was not widely reported. \u00a0Now it has been reported by the Weekend Argus that they were in the city to announce the establishment of the Polaris Climate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,22,21],"tags":[382,14641,32366,14640,32378,14642,3748,14639,14630,14574,3873,14638,14632,833,14634,14631,14629,14633,12082,14635,4,5,14004,32393,32373,14636,7120,14637],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t