Mayday, Mayday! Antarctica is going down!

Two years ago, when the wonderful world of writing was still new to me, one of the first topics I had in mind was the climate crisis. As I diligently researched it, in that period, Antarctica Flights and the ‘golden opportunity’ to visit Antarctica to sightsee touched down on my mother’s inbox. It gave me an uppercut. This conundrum was buried deep in my mind for a short time, but days ago, I received in my inbox the opportunity to board an Antarctica Flights flight. My conscience conflicted, I was confronted with the burning question: what even was the cost of Antarctica Flights?

Antarctica Flights’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner is supposed to be a 12-14 hours ‘unforgettable journey’, including 4 hours dedicated solely to sightseeing. This allows passengers to enjoy the views through aisles and windows 65% larger than typical airplane windows. Entertainment systems boast thousands more channels than regular airlines (though I suspect most passengers will stick their noses by the windows rather than the screen) followed by 2 Qantas meals. Complimentary bar service accompanies a toast to the Antarctic view. Antarctica Flights exemplifies romantic consumerism, where the promise of the experience is to make your life more utopian (a collage of many icy photos). It all sounds too good to be true, even better when you hear about their effort to restore the planet. Perhaps their carbon offset program is not all it seems.

As part of Antarctica Flights’ sustainability program, they use carbon offset to ‘balance’ their emissions. Carbon offset, in this case, is the practice of supporting programs that support Antarctica, like bandaging a severe wound. However, even a healed wound leaves a scar. A study by University College London has shown that carbon offset is less than 0.01% effective most of the time: almost no effect. According to a 2022 Antarctic Tourism Research Institute study, each Antarctic tourist melts around 83 tonnes of snow: tourism accelerates the very changes we aim to prevent. Although carbon offset damages the Antarctic region with an excess of carbon, this is only the beginning of Antarctica’s problems when biohazard comes into play: the endangerment of both ice and life on it.

Beyond carbon offset, the danger to Antarctica from tourism and overall, people, extends to biological risks. As Antarctica is the one of few areas free from human colonisation, its ecosystem is exquisite. If a link in the chain goes wrong, the entire ecosystem will collapse. Everyone who visits Antarctica brings with them millions of microscopic stowaways, microbes, yet every visitor leaves Antarctica behind, and with it, their microbes. Likewise, in 2007, a study by Antarctic Tourism Research showed that tourists carried with them over 20 species of non-native bacteria, highlighting the hidden danger to Antarctica's fragile environment. So far, Antarctica has been lucky, as the decontamination process has picked up all biological risks. Be that as it may, Antarctica Flights emissions are contributing to the crisis that is melting Antarctica’s ice, which can contain refrigerated, ancient diseases, only to start a global epidemic event.

Among the world’s continents, Antarctica is by far the most beautiful, yet fragile, but can be easily contained simply with no human contact. Yet, such initiatives like Antarctica Flights are an obvious risk. Carbon offset can be easily prevented simply by not producing it in the first place, while the same goes for biohazard. Preserving Antarctica is not just about protecting a remote landscape; it is about guarding the last place of our planet free from human touch. Must our desires be higher than the safety of the planet? Or will you climb aboard Antarctica Flights just for romance?

For Further Reading & Links:

Antarcticacruises.com.au

Antarcticaflights.com.au

https://www.qantas.com/travelinsider/en/trending/hurtigruten-cruise-competition.html?alt_cam=au:qd:in:edm:travelinsider:qnp-euro-hotels: 10Jan25:int:CONTENT:fd:offer-0-default-5-3c-2-3c-b2:ht&cid=DM327828&bid=-898808143&ffid=241104079236243051035018205082191237020254025099