Welcome PBI Climate Alliance 2022!

Polar Bears International is the only conservation organization solely focused on wild polar bears. However, we champion polar bears wherever they are and we recognize the key role zoos and aquariums play in the ongoing research and conservation efforts at Polar Bears International and in the polar bear community at large. Advancements in polar bear care are continually progressing and enriched captive environments can play a central role in global conservation efforts. 

In addition to discussing what it means to be an Arctic Ambassador Center and one’s individual role in working within his/her Arctic Ambassador Center team, this program includes a grounding in climate science, an understanding of the status of Arctic sea ice and polar bears, and strategies to effect change at the community level. 

Collaboratively, we will work with like-minded organizations, experts, and local knowledge holders to build capacity and achieve the goals of this program. Through the Alliance, we train and empower individuals to find their own role, recognize their unique strengths to join a community of others that share their concern and effect change.

Participants will engage in online learning experiences, attend an in-person summit in the polar bear capital of the world, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada - and stay connected over time with fellow ambassadors and alumni through online gatherings and social media tools.

Your online training consists of the following activities:

Activity One: Polar Bear Natural History

• Basic information on polar bear life history will be presented, including; physical characteristics, food sources, reproduction, behavior and threats. Participants will use the online community Discord for assignments, communication, and collaborative opportunities with fellow participants.

Activity Two: Climate Change

• Basic information regarding the physics of our changing climate including up to date information on Arctic sea ice.

Activity Three: Polar Bears in a Warming World

• The importance of the relationship between polar bears and sea ice and how polar bears are impacted by sea ice loss in the Arctic.

Activity Four: Working with your AAC Team

• An overview of contributions of polar bears in managed care to important conservation science efforts, current priorities as identified by AZA Bear TAG, Polar Bear SSP and Polar Bear Research Council (PBRC), Polar Bear EEP, and PBI’s Scientific Advisors.

Activity Five: Effecting Change and Civic Engagement

• Policy changes—changes to systems—are needed to save sea ice for polar bears and get our climate back to functioning the way it should. We must move away from an energy system of the past, one that comes from burning fossil fuels, to a system that gets energy from the sun, wind, and water. Let's talk about how we can all use our own strengths to plug into a community that shares our concern and help move the needle.