Articles
Supporting UNICEF’s work on climate change with Extreme E in Greenland
date
19/04/23
author
Rona Webster
Last week, the Aurora team travelled to Greenland with Extreme E and two of the championship's drivers Catie Munnings and Klara Andersson to revisit legacy projects set up in 2021.
The trip helped build understanding of how Greenland’s warming climate is affecting residents and saw the positive changes Extreme E is making on location.
Climate Change Education
The team visited a school in the town of Sisimiut who have just been given Extreme E’s Electric Go-Karts to help raise awareness of e-mobility and the green solutions that the renewable revolution can provide.
This is the second school to benefit from the carts. The go-karts were previously at a school nearby to where the race took place in Kangerlussuaq. Passing them on highlights the longevity of the legacy programme long after the racing finishes.
Scientific Sampling
Impacts of Climate Change
The team travelled by dog sled across the mountains to see the way in which the warming climate has affected the journeys that locals make regularly. Melting snow means paths are icy, making travel dangerous for the dogs and locals, as well as creating crevices which are easy to fall into.
There are no roads in Greenland so snow mobiles are used for journeys between towns. The team embarked on a trip to discover how climate change has isolated people living in settlements who can no longer leave or enter due to the unpredictable weather and sea ice.
Race Without A Trace
Andretti Altawkilat driver Catie Munnings returned to the race site to relive her and teammate Timmy Hansen’s victory at the Arctic X-Prix in 2021.
It was a chance for the drivers to see the championships ‘Race without a trace’ ethos in action - with no mark left behind on site.
In awe of the aurora
On the last night, the team were treated to a Northern Lights display, which lit up the sky above Greenland. A humbling moment to end this epic trip on.
