On January 14th, from the heart of Antarctica, the inauguration of the Ice Memory Sanctuary at Concordia Station gathered more than 300 people on live, including over 80 journalists from across the world.
At Concordia Station, the atmosphere was intense.
The field team — scientists, engineers, logistics crews — stood with pride and emotion, leading us to this crazy and visionary project they helped to implement and to shape over years finally come to life. It was the culmination of dreams frozen into reality, the birth of a sanctuary that will outlive us all, carrying the memory of our planet for generations to come.
Several high level diplomats, policy makers and scientific leaders came together online to accompany the incredible on-site team, who — despite the -28°C — carried out a historic mission. They welcomed the first two heritage ice cores from Mont Blanc and Grand Combin and cut the ribbon. Then, they stored the last boxes within the Sanctuary, at a natural, constant -52°C.
This marks the launch of the first global archive of mountain glaciers, built to preserve our planet’s climate memory for centuries — even as glaciers vanish before our eyes.
The Antarctic Ice Memory Sanctuary is now a reality — and the replay of its historic inauguration is available!
The ceremony was saluted by international voices committed to science and legacy:
“Glaciers are not only ice — they are pillars of the Earth system. Their decline carries economic, social and environmental consequences. They must be recognized as a common heritage of humanity.”
— HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Honorary President, Ice Memory Foundation, Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco
“What we inaugurate today is far more than a storage facility. It is a global archive of climate history. A sanctuary where the memory of Earth is preserved for future generations.”
— Gianluigi Consoli, Director-General, Director-General for Internationalisation and Communication, Minister of University and Research, Italy
“By safeguarding these ice cores, we give this climate reference to future generations. This knowledge is the foundation for political decisions on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”
— Thomas F. Stocker, Chair, Ice Memory Foundation, Université de Berne
Many thanks to the entire field team at Concordia Station, ENEA, Institut polaire français Paul-Émile Victor, and to all our partners and supporters who make this vision a reality.
This is only the beginning!
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