Brussels, 21st January 2021

In a decision handed down on the 5th of January 2021, the Chambre du Conseil of Brussels definitively dismissed all charges of conflict of interest against Alain Hubert and the International Polar Foundation.

The charges were lodged in December 2013 by the former Director of the Belgian Science Policy Office, who challenged the appointment of Alain Hubert as President of the Polar Secretariat, and contested the participation of the International Polar Foundation in the Public-Private Partnership embodied by the Polar Secretariat.

The Court held that neither the Polar Foundation nor Alain Hubert could be considered as having profited personally from these appointments.

In its judgment, the Court upheld the conformity with the law of the partnership agreements signed between the Belgian State and the International Polar Foundation in 2007 and 2009. This finding is in line with the decision of the Council of State (the highest administrative Court in Belgium), handed down in June 2017.

The Court found that due to the various checks and balances exercised by the public administration, Alain Hubert would have at no time been able to promote his private interests as President and member of the Polar Secretariat. At no point was the public interest harmed, and the Court maintained that there is no evidence of a conflict of interest. In reality, the Foundation has carried on with the tasks entrusted to it by the State since 2009, demonstrating the working collaboration between the parties.

The International Polar Foundation and Alain Hubert have welcomed the decision of the Courts, bringing as it does to a close a long period of unfounded attacks on the honesty and integrity of the Foundation.

The Foundation wishes to thank all those in both the private and public sector who have shown their confidence and offered support to the IPF during all these years.

The IPF is a public utility foundation created in 2002 by Alain Hubert in conjunction with renowned academic scientists, with the intention of advancing the cause of polar sciences internationally. The Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station, the first “zero emission” research station in Antarctica, is a flagship project of the IPF. The reinforcing of the Belgian presence in Antarctica and the support for research that ensued are key objectives of the IPF in promoting sustainable development through showcasing Belgian and European engineering and scientific excellence as well as being at the service of citizens.

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L’ordonnance de la Chambre du conseil  ne retient aucune charge contre Alain Hubert et la Fondation Polaire Internationale (IPF)

Communiqué de presse

Bruxelles, 21 janvier 2021.

En date du 5 janvier 2021, la Chambre du conseil du Tribunal de Bruxelles a prononcé un non- lieu contre l’ensemble des préventions requises par le ministère public contre Alain Hubert et la Fondation polaire internationale.

Les procédures avaient été engagées en décembre 2013 par l’ancien directeur de l’administration de la Politique scientifique fédérale, celui-ci contestant la nomination d’Alain Hubert comme Président du Secrétariat polaire, ainsi que la participation d’IPF au partenariat public-privé au sein du Secrétariat polaire.

Faisant référence à l’arrêt rendu en 2017 par le Conseil d’État, qui consacre la légalité des accords de partenariat entre l’État belge et la Fondation Polaire, la Chambre du Conseil établit le respect par Alain Hubert et l’IPF de ce cadre, conformément à la volonté du législateur.

Elle ajoute qu’en raison des différents contrôles exercés par l’administration publique, Alain Hubert « n’a pas pu favoriser ses intérêts privés »*, tant comme président que membre du Secrétariat polaire. Elle établit également que « l’intérêt public n’a pas été lésé »*, et que rien ne démontre « qu’Alain Hubert ait recherché un enrichissement personnel »*.

La Fondation polaire internationale et Alain Hubert se réjouissent de cette décision de justice. Elle confirme leur permanente loyauté aux accords conclus avec le gouvernement belge, et donne raison à leur inlassable protestation d’innocence.

La Fondation polaire internationale remercie une nouvelle fois l’ensemble de ses collaborateurs et partenaires de la Fondation, ainsi que les personnalités, tant privées que publiques, qui n’ont pas manqué au long de ces années de manifester leur confiance et soutien.

L’IPF est une fondation d’utilité publique créée en 2002 par Alain Hubert avec des personnalités scientifiques du monde académique. Elle a comme mission le soutien de la recherche scientifique polaire internationale. Elle est également à l’initiative de la station antarctique Princess Elisabeth, première station « zéro émission », en vue de préserver la présence antarctique belge et d’en poursuivre l’ambition au service des citoyens confrontés aux défis climatiques et environnementaux.

*Extrait de l’Ordonnance de la Chambre du Conseil du 05/01/2021.

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Beschikking van de Raadkamer van de Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg: volledige buitenvervolgingstelling in voordeel van Alain Hubert en de International Polar Foundation (IPF)

Persbericht

Brussel, 21 januari 2021

Op 5 januari 2021 heeft de Raadkamer van de Rechtbank van Eerste Aanleg te Brussel een beschikking van buitenvervolgingstelling uitgesproken. Alle aanklachten van het openbaar ministerie werden afgewezen.

De procedure werd in december 2013 ingeleid door de voormalige directeur van de Federale Overheidsdienst Wetenschapsbeleid. Toen betwistte hij de benoeming van Alain Hubert tot voorzitter van het Poolsecretariaat, alsook het partnerschap tussen de IPF en de Belgische Staat binnen het Poolsecretariaat.

Verwijzing naar het arrest van de Raad van State dd. 9 juni 2017, waarin de wettigheid van de partnerschapsovereenkomsten tussen de Belgische Staat en IPF werd vastgelegd, doet de Raadkamer besluiten dat het wettelijke kader alsook de wil van de wetgever door IPF en Alain Hubert werden gehonoreerd. Daarnaast verklaarde zij dat, door het bestaan van het overheidstoezicht en de verschillende door overheidsdiensten uitgevoerde controles, Alain Hubert “zijn privébelangen als voorzitter en lid van het Poolsecretariaat niet kon bevoordelen”*. Ze stelde ook vast dat “het algemeen belang niet aangetast werd”* en dat er “geen bewijs aangeleverd kon worden betreffende het nastreven van persoonlijke verrijking door Alain Hubert”*.

IPF en Alain Hubert verheugen zich op deze beslissing van de Raadkamer. Het bevestigt hun bestendige loyaliteit aan de overeenkomsten die met de Belgische regering werden aangegaan en geeft hun gelijk in het volhouden van hun herhaalde bewering van onschuld. 

De International Polar Foundation wil nogmaals alle medewerkers en partners van de Stichting bedanken, evenals de publieke en private persoonlijkheden die in de loop der jaren hun vertrouwen en steun hebben getoond.

IPF is een Stichting van openbaar nut, opgericht in 2002 door Alain Hubert met wetenschappelijke persoonlijkheden uit de academische wereld. Haar missie is het ondersteunen van internationaal poolwetenschappelijk onderzoek. Ook was IPF initiatiefneemster van het station Princess Elisabeth op Antarctica, het eerste «zero emission» station, met het oog op het behoud van de Belgische Antarctische aanwezigheid en het nastreven van haar ambitie om burgers die met klimaat- en milieu -uitdagingen te maken hebben ten dienste te staan.

*Vrij vertaling van uittreksels van de beschikking van de Raadkamer dd. 5 januari 2021.

Passionate about discovering the world, Philippe Bodson travelled extensively during his life, most notably with Alan Hubert, with whom Philippe shared many expeditions and a steadfast friendship. 

Engaged in exploring the most cutting-edge innovation through the many companies he developed, and convinced of the importance of polar science in better understanding our climate, Philippe got involved in the International Polar Foundation right from its establishment in 2002.

He joined the Strategic Council of the Polar Secretariat upon its creation in 2009, and was its vice-president for five years.

He became and administrator for the International Polar Foundation in 2010 and had been one of the Foundation's pillars ever since.

An unwavering supporter of the Foundation during its most difficult years (2015-2017), Philippe personally invested himself in all mediation meetings with the Belgian Government. This allowed for a new agreement to be established with the government in order to ensure that the Princess Elisabeth Station could continue to help broaden the influence of Belgian polar science.

In spite of his many commitments, Philippe was always there for the Foundation to share his vision, his enthusiasm, and his advice.

His passing leaves a large hole in the Foundation. However his energy, his vision, and his sense of duty remain the basis upon which the Foundation shall continue its mission, in particular to achieve excellence in its mission as Operator of the Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica.

About Philippe Bodson

Baron Philippe André Eugène Bodson was a Belgian businessman and politician who had a long career, which included positions such as CEO of Glaverbel and Director of Fortis Bank. He also served in the Belgian Senate from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the Movement reformateur party.  In addition, he served on the Board of many organisations, including the Board of the International Polar Foundation.

He held a degree in civil engineering from the University of Liège (ULg) and a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

About the International Polar Foundation

The International Polar Foundation supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.

Founded by Belgian polar explorer Alain Hubert, Prof. Hugo Decleir and Prof. André Berger in 2002, the Brussels-based International Polar Foundation provides a novel interface between science and society, and was recognised by Belgian Royal Statute as a foundation for the public good in 2002. HM King Philippe is the International Polar Foundation's honorary president.

The Foundation seeks to bring about a keener appreciation of the role of science, particularly research in the Polar Regions, through a re-examination of the planet’s interconnections, its fragility, the impact of human actions on the environment, and the evolution of millennial climate cycles.
 

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De International Polar Foundation eert de nagedachtenis van zijn oude vriend Philippe Bodson

De International Polar Foundation is bedroefd over het overlijden van zijn oude vriend Philippe Bodson op 4 april 2020, wegens complicaties in verband met COVID-19.

Philippe Bodson was altijd gepassioneerd van het ontdekken van de wereld en heeft tijdens zijn leven veel rondgereisd, vooral met Alain Hubert, met wie Philippe vele expedities en een vaste vriendschap deelde.

Vastbesloten bij het verkennen van de meest vooruitstrevende innovatie doorheen de verschillende bedrijven die hij stichtte, raakte Philippe vanaf de stichting in 2002 betrokken bij de International Polar Foundation.

Hij werd lid van de Strategische Raad van het Polair Secretariaat bij zijn oprichting in 2009 en was vijf jaar lang ondervoorzitter van deze raad.

Hij werd beheerder van de International Polar Foundation in 2010 en was sindsdien een van de pijlers van de Stichting.

Als overtuigd voorstander van de Stichting investeerde Philippe tijdens de moeilijkste jaren (2015-2017) zich persoonlijk in alle bemiddelingsgesprekken met de Belgische regering. Zo kon een nieuwe overeenkomst worden gesloten om ervoor te zorgen dat het Princess Elisabeth-station de invloed van de Belgische poolwetenschap kon blijven vergroten.

Ondanks zijn vele engagementen was Philippe er altijd voor de Stichting om zijn visie, zijn enthousiasme en zijn advies te delen.

Zijn overlijden laat een grote leegte achter in de Stichting. Zijn energie, zijn visie en zijn plichtsbesef blijven echter de basis waarop de Stichting haar missie zal voortzetten, in het bijzonder om uitmuntendheid te bereiken in haar missie als uitbater van het Princess Elisabeth-station op Antarctica.

Over Philippe Bodson

Baron Philippe André Eugène Bodson was een Belgische zakenman en politicus met een lange carrière, waaronder functies als CEO van Glaverbel en directeur van Fortis Bank. Hij was van 1999 tot 2003 ook lid van de Belgische Senaat als lid van de Mouvement réformateur-partij. Daarnaast was hij lid van het raad van bestuur van vele organisaties, waaronder het raad van bestuur van de International Polar Foundation.

Hij behaalde een diploma burgerlijk ingenieur aan de Universiteit van Luik (ULg) en een Master of Business Administration aan INSEAD in Fontainebleau, Frankrijk.

Over de International Polar Foundation

De International Polar Foundation ondersteunt pool wetenschappelijk onderzoek voor de bevordering van kennis, de bevordering van geïnformeerde maatregelen inzake klimaatverandering en de ontwikkeling van een duurzame samenleving.

Opgericht door de Belgische poolonderzoeker Alain Hubert, prof. Hugo Decleir en prof. André Berger in 2002, biedt de in Brussel gevestigde International Polar Foundation een nieuwe interface tussen wetenschap en samenleving, en werd erkend door het Belgisch Koninklijk Besluit als een stichting van openbare nut in 2002. Zijne Majesteit Koning Filip is de erevoorzitter van de International Polar Foundation.

The International Polar Foundation streeft naar een grotere waardering van de rol van wetenschap, in het bijzonder onderzoek in de poolgebieden, door een heronderzoek van de onderlinge verbindingen van de planeet, haar kwetsbaarheid, de impact van menselijk handelen op het milieu en de evolutie van de millennium klimaat cycli.

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La Fondation Polaire Internationale honore la mémoire de son ami de longue date, Philippe Bodson

La Fondation Polaire Internationale est très peinée d'apprendre le décès de son ami de longue date, Philippe Bodson, le 4 avril 2020 en raison de complications liées au COVID-19.

Passionné par la découverte continue du monde, il l’a arpenté dans tous ses recoins notamment avec Alain Hubert, avec qui il a réalisé plusieurs expéditions et lié une amitié indéfectible.

Engagé dans l'exploration des innovations les plus pointes à travers de nombreuses sociétés qui les développaient et convaincu de l'importance de la science polaire dans l’explication des questions climatiques, il s'est investi aux côtés de la Fondation Polaire Internationale dès 2002.

Il a rejoint le Conseil stratégique du secrétariat polaire lors de sa création en 2009 et en était depuis 5 ans le vice- président.

Il est devenu administrateur de la Fondation polaire internationale en 2010 et en était depuis un des piliers.

Infatigable supporter de la Fondation pendant les années difficiles 2015-2017, il s'est investi personnellement dans toutes les réunions de médiation qui ont permis le succès d'un nouvel accord entre l'État belge et la Fondation pour assurer la pérennité de la station Princess Elisabeth et renforcer le rayonnement de la science polaire belge.

Malgré tous ses multiples engagements, il était toujours là aux côtés de la Fondation pour partager sa vision, son enthousiasme et ses conseils. 

Sa disparition laisse un grand vide dans la Fondation mais son énergie, son charisme, sa vision et son sens du devoir resteront les bases sur lesquelles la Fondation continuera à poursuivre sa mission et en particulier la recherche de l'excellence dans sa mission d'opérateur de la station Princess Elisabeth en Antarctique.

À propos de Philippe Bodson

Le baron Philippe André Eugène Bodson était un homme d'affaires et homme politique belge qui a eu une longue carrière comprenant des postes tels que PDG de Glaverbel et administrateur de Fortis Banque. Il a également siégé au Sénat belge de 1999 à 2003 en tant que membre du Mouvement Réformateur. De plus, il a siégé au conseil d'administration de nombreuses organisations, dont celui de la Fondation Polaire Internationale.

Il était titulaire d'un diplôme d'ingénieur civil de l'Université de Liège (ULg) et d'un Master of Business Administration de l'INSEAD de Fontainebleau, France.

À propos de la Fondation Polaire Internationale

La Fondation Polaire Internationale soutient la recherche scientifique polaire pour l'avancement des connaissances et la promotion d'une action éclairée sur le changement climatique ainsi que le développement d'une société durable.

Fondée à l'initiative de l'explorateur polaire Alain Hubert et des professeurs André Berger et Hugo Decleir en 2002, La Fondation Polaire Internationale, basée à Bruxelles, fournit une nouvelle interface entre la science et la société. Elle a été reconnue par arrêté royal comme Fondation d'utilité publique en 2020. Sa Majesté le Roi Philippe en est le président honoraire.

La Fondation vise à mieux faire comprendre le rôle de la science, en particulier la recherche dans les régions polaires, à travers un réexamen des interconnexions de la planète, de sa fragilité, de l'impact des actions humaines sur l'environnement et de l'évolution millénaire des cycles climatiques.

Contact:

Email: press@polarfoundation.org
Phone: + 32 (0)2 520 34 40

www.polarfoundation.org
 

Antarctica and its role in the Earth System
Along with loss of biodiversity, global sea level rise is one of the most alarming consequences of climate change. The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which holds the largest frozen fresh water reserves on the planet, could be one of the largest contributors to global sea level rise, should a significant portion of its ice melt. This is why it is essential to study how the ice sheet’s mass has evolved over time and how fast it might be losing ice.

In service to science
These are exactly the questions that the Mass2Ant project - which has been developed by glaciologists from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels - ULB) and modellers from the Université catholique de Louvain (Catholic University of Louvain- UCLouvain), the Belgian Royal Institute of Meteorology, Delft University of Technology, and the University of Colorado Boulder (UC Boulder) - have been trying to answer over the last several seasons in Antarctica.

Similar to previous seasons, the mission of the scientists was carried out in a coastal region (Princess Ragnhild Coast) situated 200 km from the Princess Elisabeth Station. In this region, one can find many ice shelves (structures formed by ice from the Antarctic Ice Sheet that flows off of the continent and out over the sea). However, how these ice shelves have changed over time is little understood, an issue that the scientists of the Mass2Ant project are trying to resolve by looking at the ice rises nearby. Ice rises are small individual ice domes built on submarine bedrock highs. They often interfere with ice shelves at their margin, but have their own simple flow, which makes them ideal paleoclimatic “dipsticks”.

A team from the International Polar Foundation, operator of the Belgian station, accompanied the scientists on their trip to the coast, providing them with the technical and logistical support they needed to extract a 260 metre ice core, the longest well-preserved ice core the project has been able to obtain in one season from an ice rise. The team used a fluid developed specifically for deep ice core drilling, which prevents the ice cores from being damaged (a common problem researchers can encounter when they drill deep ice cores). While it was a challenging technical feat to accomplish, the scientists were happy with the result of the team’s efforts.

500 years of climate history
With the 260 metre ice core they were able to extract (about half of the depth of the 560 metre-deep ice rise), glaciologists will be able to analyse more than 500 years of climate history from this remote region of the coast of East Antarctica, including the transition to the Anthropocene, and the rise of man-induced climate changes. This will make it possible to reconstruct past climate in the region, which will in turn contribute to modelling present and future climate change, including sea level rise.

For more information, or to receive photos, please contact us at: office@polarfoundation.org ; comms@polarfoundation.org
or at:+32 (0)2 520 34 40

You are also encouraged to have a look at a related interview with Prof. Jean-Louis Tison from the ULB Glaciology Laboratory on the International Polar Foundation Website. You are welcome to cite text from it, as long as you give full attribution.

Photo  ©Mass2Ant Project. ULB Glaciologist Prof. Jean-Louis Tison poses with a section of the 260 metre ice core taken at the Princess Ragnhild Coast in East Antarctica

Dr. Winter was selected after an independent peer review process, which recommended  Dr. Winter for the proposed project which was found to meet the objectives of scientific excellence.This exceptional young British polar scientist will conduct research at Princess Elisabeth, the Belgian Zero Emissions Research station in East Antarctica.

The project which involves undertaking cutting edge geomorphological research around the Belgian Princess Elizabeth station operational area will contribute to advancing the diversity of the research being carried out in the region. Her proposal will contribute particularly to understanding the transport of nutrients in sediments from inland areas of the Antarctic to the Southern Ocean. This goal will fill a gap in scientific investigation of ice sheets, and ocean fertilisation processes.

‘I am delighted and honoured to win the Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship. The Fonds Baillet Latour and the International Polar Foundation are giving me a unique opportunity to establish myself in a highly competitive international field. The award will allow me to conduct research in East Antarctica, one of the worlds most remote and extreme environments. It will enable me to answer important science questions that early career researchers are often not given the chance to solve.’ Dr. Kate Winter, Northumbria University

In December 2018, Dr. Winter will travel to Princess Elisabeth to begin her fieldwork. Her research will focus on the contribution of ice flow to the uptake of carbon dioxide by the Southern Ocean. She will use recent advances in terrestrial laser scanning, structure-from-motion photogrammetry and ice penetrating radar to assess how sediment sources of iron are transferred through the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. She will examine the contribution of these sediments to marine productivity in the Southern Ocean, a process which can reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Her research may provide important knowledge on how Antarctica is playing a role in future global climate change.

More information about BioFe will be available over the next two years on: www.polarfoundation.org

Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship

The Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship is a joint initiative between the International Polar Foundation and the Baillet Latour Fund. This award promotes science and scientific excellence in Antarctica through young research scientists. The fellowship, worth € 150 000, recognizes the importance of science carried out in Antarctica for improving the understanding of Earth, and encourages scientific research at, or close to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica polar research station.

This press release is also available in Dutch and French.

The Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship award is a joint initiative between the Baillet Latour Fund and the International Polar Foundation. Its aim is to promote scientific excellence and support a young researcher wishing to conduct scientific research at or in the vicinity of Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station. With climate change representing an important challenge for society, such research is crucial in our quest for understanding how our planet and its climate system functions.

The call is open to doctoral or post-doctoral students from any country in the world within 10 years of completing their PhD and working in the following disciplines: (1) atmospheric sciences (2) geology (3) glaciology and (4) microbiology (excluding marine microbiology).  

This edition of the award will allow the winning candidate to carry out two field campaigns based at Princess Elisabeth station during the Antarctic summer seasons of November 2018 - February 2019 and November 2019 - February 2020.

More information and how to apply: www.polarfoundation.org/projects/detail/baillet_latour_fellowship   

DEADLINE: 15 MAY 2018 (midnight CET)

Winning Laureate will be announced in fall 2018

PDF versions of this press release are available in ENGLISH / FLEMISH / FRENCH

INTERNATIONAL POLAR FOUNDATION

The International Polar Foundation supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.

www.polarfoundation.org / www.antarcticstation.org

BAILLET LATOUR FUND

The Baillet Latour Fund was established in 1974 on the initiative of Count Alfred de Baillet Latour. Its aim is to promote, encourage and reward excellence, principally in Belgium, by focusing its work on people. For over 40 years, the Fund has sought to support initiatives that are remarkable for their influence, the excellence they inspire or their innovative approach to meeting the challenges faced by tomorrow’s society. Its support generates concrete spin-offs with specific future benefits in four areas: health, education, culture and sport.

www.fondsbailletlatour.com  

MORE INFORMATION                  

Antarctica Fellowship Secretariat: fellowship@polarfoundation.org

Brussels, Belgium, 30 June 2017

Belgian Secretary of State for Science, Mme Zuhal Demir, and Alain Hubert, Founder and President of the International Polar Foundation, hosted a Press conference on Friday, 30 June 2017, to publicly announce a new agreement regarding the management and operations of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, the world’s first ever “zero emission” research station.

The agreement follows three months of intense negotiations between the the Belgian State and the International Polar Foundation aimed at resolving disagreements over the management of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica which have been going on since 2015. The signing of the new agreement is a positive step forward in re-establishing the public-private partnership that led to the environmentally friendly research station being built.

Key outcomes of the new agreement:

• The International Polar Foundation has made a full donation of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica to the Belgian State, making the Belgian state the sole owner of the research station (the International Polar Foundation has therefore relinquished its ownership of the station, as initially intended under the Convention signed with the Belgian State in 2007).
• The International Polar Foundation will be responsible for the management, maintenance, supervision and security of scientific missions undertaken at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica for the next six years. This partnership agreement has the potential to be extended for three additional years. All pending legal proceedings between the the Belgian State and the International Polar Foundation have been terminated.
• All previous agreements and conventions between the the Belgian State and the International Polar Foundation will be annulled, including the Partnership Convention of 2007, the original act of donation from the International Polar Foundation to the Belgian State (the Partnership Protocol) of 2010, and the Belgian Law of 24 July 2008, all of which had previously set out the terms and conditions of ownership and operation of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.
• An international non-profit organisation comprised of members from the public sector and controlled by the Belgian State will replace the existing public private partnership vehicle called the Polar Secretariat, which has until now been responsible for managing the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.
• A scientific committee (composed of scientists from the Belgian Antarctic Research Committee and Belgian institutions) will be set up under the new international non-profit organisation to advise on scientific research undertaken at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.

Thanks to the renewed trust and cooperation that has been forged between the two parties with this new agreement, Belgium will once again be fully active in international collaborative scientific research in Antarctica.

“We have pressed the ‘reset’ button so we can start on a blank page. Good agreements and good discussions make good friends. I do not look to the past, but to the future, and the future is scientific research.” Zuhal Demir, Belgian Secretary of State for Science Policy.

“Our integrity was restored by justice. Having a minister with a sense of the rule of law is fundamental to a democracy for the general good. We now have a minister who shows true leadership!” Alain Hubert, Founder and President, International Polar Foundation.

Since its inauguration during the International Polar Year 2007-2009, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station has served as a unique research platform allowing scientists from over a dozen nations to significantly reduce their carbon footprint while conducting research in Antarctica - a region critical for the study and improved understanding of climate change.

Princess Elizabeth Antarctica research station:

The International Polar Foundation and its private partners conceived of and built the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica (PEA). Located in the Dronning Maud Land region of East Antarctica, it is the first polar research station designed to run entirely on renewable energy sources (wind and solar). The station has been operational since the 2008-09 Antarctic research season

www.antarcticstation.org

About Alain Hubert and the International Polar Foundation:

Alain Hubert, Founder and President of the International Polar Foundation, is a civil engineer by training and certified mountain guide (UIAGM), entrepreneur, and polar explorer. Alain founded The International Polar Foundation in 2002 in order to support polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.

www.polarfoundation.org

Press contacts:

Joseph Cheek: joseph.cheek@polarfoundation.org

Simon Steffen: ssteffen@polarfoundation.org 

T: +32 2 520 34 40

Mysterious ‘crater’ on Antarctica indication of vulnerable ice sheet

The East Antarctic ice sheet appears to be more vulnerable than expected, due to a strong wind that brings warm air and blows away the snow. That is the conclusion reached by a team of climate researchers led by Jan Lenaerts (Utrecht University) and Stef Lhermitte (TU Delft), based on a combination of climate models, satellite observations and on-site measurements. Their conclusions will be published in Nature Climate Change on 12 December. “Tens of meters of rising sea levels are locked away in Antarctica”, says Lenaerts. “And our research has shown that also East Antarctica is vulnerable to climate change.”

Current IPCC projections show large uncertainties in Antarctica’s contribution to sea level rise, because the role of ice shelf processes remains uncertain. Lenaerts explains: “Little climate change is observable in East Antarctica, because the area is so isolated from the rest of the world.” However, to the researchers’ astonishment, the ice shelves in some regions of East Antarctica are melting faster than scientists had previously assumed. These ice shelves appear to be extremely sensitive to climate change.

Hotspots

Through a unique combination of field work, satellite data and a climate model, the researchers were able to explain why some parts of the East Antarctica ice shelves are melting so rapidly. This is because the strong and persistent wind transports warm, dry air to the region, and blows away the snow. This darkens the surface, which subsequently absorbs more of the sun’s heat. The result is a local warmer microclimate with a few literal ‘hotspots’. Because the ice shelf is floating in the ocean, its melting does not immediately contribute to sea level rise. However, the ice shelves around Antarctica are extremely important for ice sheet stability, because they hold back the land ice. If the ice shelves collapse, this land ice ends up in the ocean and consequently sea level will rise.

Mysterious crater

Part of the research conducted by Lenaerts and Lhermitte focused on a mysterious crater that was spotted on the King Baudoin ice shelf. “At the time, the media reported that it was probably a meteorite impact crater”, Lenaerts says. “My response was: in that area? Then it’s definitely not a meteorite; it’s proof of strong melting.”

In January 2016, the researchers visited the crater and discovered that it was a collapsed lake, with a moulin – a hole in the ice– which allowed the water to flow into the ocean. Lhermitte: “That was a huge surprise. Moulins typically are observed on Greenland. And we definitely never see them on an ice shelf.” Moreover, the researchers discovered that there were many meltwater lakes hidden under the surface of the ice, some of which were kilometres across. Underwater video images provide a clear image of the amount of meltwater present in the area.

Vulnerable

Is this a sign of climate change? “The crater isn’t new; we found it on satellite images from 1989. The amount of melt water differs immensely from year to year, but it clearly increases during warm years”, according to Lhermitte. Last year, an influential publication showed that Antarctica’s contribution to rising sea levels depends largely on the stability of these melting ice shelves. Lenaerts: “That study indicated that West Antarctica is extremely sensitive to climate change. But our research now suggests that the much larger East Antarctica ice sheet is also very vulnerable.”

This press release is also available in Flemish and French

Publication: http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nclimate3180.html#access

The study was financed by the Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship and is a collaborative effort by Utrecht University, TU Delft, KU Leuven, Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Alfred-Wegener-Institute.

The project was supported by the International Polar Foundation and the field work was carried out of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station at Utsteinen, East Antarctica.

International Polar Foundation

The International Polar Foundation supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.

www.polarfoundation.org  / www.antarcticstation.org

Baillet Latour Foundation

The Baillet Latour Foundation was established in 1974, on the initiative of Count Alfred de Baillet Latour. Its aim? To promote, encourage and reward excellence, principally in Belgium, by focusing its work on people.

For over 40 years, the Foundation has sought to support initiatives that are remarkable for their influence, the excellence they inspire or their innovative approach to meeting the challenges faced by tomorrow’s society.

Its support generates concrete spin-offs with specific future benefits in four areas: health, education, culture and sport.

www.fondsbailletlatour.com 

Contact the International Polar Foundation:

Joseph Cheek
Project Manager & Communications
joseph.cheek@polarfoundation.org

or 

Simon Steffen: ssteffen@polarfoundation.org 

The Princess Elisabeth Antarctic research station: What does the Belgian State want?

The Board of Directors of the International Polar Foundation has with great surprise learnt from the Belgian press of the initiative that Elke Sleurs, the Belgian Secretary of State in charge of Federal Science Policy, has taken with the aim of unilaterally modifying the Royal Decree governing the management of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic research station. The PEA project was, from the outset, meant to be a close cooperation between the public and private sectors with the goal of supporting polar research in a region of Antarctica with historical links to Belgium, and where a new research station was manifestly needed.

The proposal of the Secretary of State seeks to appoint a new Strategic Council for the Belgian Polar Secretariat, and one which is to be made up only of members from the public sector.  This move ousting the private sector partners is in direct opposition to the bilateral accords which underly the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica project from the very beginning. The Secretary of State’s proposition was introduced on the very day on which the Belgian courts ruled against the Belgian State for the second time in this unfortunate affair. The order of the Court of First Instance in Brussels ruled on 10th July that the Belgian State had to appoint  members from the private sector of the Strategic Council within a fortnight, or else give sound reasons for not complying.

The Council of Ministers, it transpires, proceeded to provisionally approve the proposal (to amend the law) despite the fact that no contact was established between the cabinet of Secretary Sleurs and the IPF to try to resolve their differences. This is despite her cabinet writing the following to the IPF on the 6th of March: “Please allow me to congratulate you on a successful 2014-2015 [Antarctic] campaign. The State Secretary of Science Policy would be happy to meet with you in order to better understand the situation [in Antarctica]. She fully understands the challenges one faces in such a [polar] campaign, including the financial challenges. Know that the meeting will also serve to prepare a communication to the general public so that the positive image of the station can help keep the station [project] going.”

For many years, the public-private partnership of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica project has been asphyxiated politically, administratively, and financially by the public sector.

Of what does the Belgian State accuse the International Polar Foundation?

A conflict of interest?

There is manifestly no conflict of interest. The Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station was constructed at the initiative of the International Polar Foundation, and funded mostly with money from the private sector (16 million Euros). As a public private partnership, this semi-autonomous public service is governed by conventions, which define the financing, management and operation of the Princess Elisabeth station via the Belgian Polar Secretariat. While the former Director of the Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) first raised his objections to this form of management on the 18th of May 2011, the Minister of Science Policy and the Council of State reassured him, confirming the legality of the Belgian Polar Secretariat decision making bodies: “The particular position that the latter (sic) (the International Polar Foundation) and its president, Mr Alain Hubert, holds in the Belgian Polar Secretariat has come about in a perfectly legal manner.” (Letter of Minister of Science Policy Sabine Laruelle addressed to the president of BELSPO at that time, Phillippe Mettens, dated 15 July 2011).

Financial Manipulations?

All accounting documents related to the operations of the station were sent to the appropriate authorities on time. The unilateral reports of the  Financial Inspector were never forwarded to the IPF.  We can testify to the fact that all expenses related to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station conform to the budgets adopted each year by the Strategic Council of the Belgian Polar Secretariat. The International Polar Foundation has always respected all instructions from the financial inspector regarding public procurement regulations. All of our accounting documents are transparent to Belgian authorities. All invoices are systematically validated and certified by an external auditor.

Using “affiliated companies” for self-enrichment?

The “affiliated companies” are founding partners of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station project, whereas the Belgian State is not. It has been public knowledge from the outset that Alain Hubert, a private citizen, has served as non-remunerated President of the Strategic Council of the Belgian Polar Secretariat (a body in which he had no extraordinary powers, but was simply one of 12 voting Council members) while also serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Polar Foundation. This particular configuration was never questioned by the Government of the time.

With regard to the teams working at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station (referred to as “affiliated companies”): they are historical partners from whom the International Polar Foundation has sought expertise in technical and polar-related matters. These partners contributed to the construction of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station (2007-2009), on a voluntary basis. Since the station became operational in 2009, these partner individuals and organisations have contributed to the operation of the station and have been remunerated for their services at fair market value. All contracts with these companies have been established with full transparency, exclusively for the benefit of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station. The “affiliated companies” include Polaris Centre asbl, a not-for-profit organisation within the International Polar Foundation group, tasked with managing HQ operations between Belgium and Antarctica; a specialised carpentry company handling the construction and maintenance of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station; a research and development company, which designs technical equipment for use in extreme conditions as well as specialised shoes for use in professional polar activities.

An external audit conducted by Ernst & Young and ordered by the Secretary of State of the time, as well as successive reports of international Antarctic Treaty inspections made by partner countries confirmed that operational costs of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station were significantly lower than those of other stations in Antarctica of similar size. Moreover, partner countries have often commented on the high quality of the logistical support scientists receive.

Budgetary overruns?

Since the beginning of our collaboration with the Belgian State, whenever a budget is exceeded, the extra is always covered by the International Polar Foundation, with the help of private sponsors. Furthermore, sponsorship from the private sector has been needed to allow the International Polar foundation to ensure pre-financing obligations for seasons carried out at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, and to address the shortfall which resulted from the Belgian State’s late payment of money owed, as well as interest on pre-financing each season. With regard to late payments, on 8 May 2015, the Court of First Instance in Brussels issued a ruling condemning the Belgian State to pay outstanding invoices for sums indisputably owed to the International Polar Foundation. The Belgian State owes the International Polar Foundation a cumulated sum of 2,308,142 Euros in unpaid invoices. To date, the Belgian State has not respected this ruling.

The State Secretary’s allusion to a “bankruptcy” of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station?

This strange notion concerning the “bankruptcy” of the station is part of the strategy of persuasion that the Secretary of State has developed. When the Belgian State refuses to honour its debt to the International Polar Foundation, and thus indirectly to the Foundation’s subcontracted service providers, it becomes necessary to have a clear look at the responsibilities of each party.

The only failure related to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station project comes from the partnership with the Belgian public sector, which has not respected its agreements and obligations as a partner in the station project.

In spite of the non-respect of the conventions signed by the Belgian State, the International Polar Foundation (IPF) would like to express, via this communication, its firm determination to continue its activities in Antarctica, with its only objective being to ensure the continued use of the station as a tool to serve scientific research. As the first zero carbon emission research station in Antarctica, the Princess Elisabeth station is a prototype for sustainable living recognised around the world.

It has come about as an initiative of the International Polar Foundation and its private-sector partners, and it is a flagship project for Belgium on the international stage.

-The Board of Directors of the International Polar Foundation

Polar explorer, civil engineer, President of the Belgian Polar Secretariat, and leader of Belgian expeditions in Antarctica, Alain Hubert received the prestigious award at the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) on 1st June 2015 in London. John Shears, Vice-President of the RGS, presented Mr Hubert with the award during the annual meeting of the RGS in London. Alain Hubert is the first Belgian to be recognised with such an award from the RGS.

The Royal Geographical Society in London awards the prize in recognition of outstanding people who have made significant contributions to geographical research as well as the promotion of geography, science, and discovery.

Captain Robert Scott, Niel Armstrong, David Attenborough, Sylvia Earle, Nicholas Stern and Edward O. Wilson are amongst the most well-known recipients of the RGS Medals and Awards.

More information about the Royal Geographical Society can be found at: http://www.rgs.org

Contact the International Polar Foundation:

Joseph Cheek
Project Manager & Communications
joseph.cheek@polarfoundation.org
or 

Simon Steffen: ssteffen@polarfoundation.org

Over a period of more than four months from November 2007 until March 2008, Alain Hubert and a team of dedicated experts braved sub-zero temperatures, harsh life conditions and the occasional storm to construct the outer shell of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, which now stands on top of a granite ridge at Utsteinen in the Dronning Maud Land. The team also constructed the garages and completed mounting the seven remaining wind turbines next to the station.

The completion of this first phase of the construction is a major accomplishment and a dream come true for Alain Hubert and everyone involved in the project. A project that has been in the making for four years and has involved contributions from countless numbers of dedicated people, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station is the first polar research station designed to create zero carbon emissions by utilising a highly energy-efficient design and by running entirely on renewable wind and solar energies. The International Polar Foundation, of which Mr. Hubert is Co-founder and President, has conceived, designed and financed the construction of the station with the help of its financial sponsors and technical partners.

The second and final phase of the Princess Elisabeth's construction will take place during next year's BELARE 2008- 09 expedition, which will last from November 2008 until March 2009. During this season, all the functional systems of the station, such as energy management and waste water treatment, will be installed. By March 2009, construction is expected to be completed and all station systems operational.

Even before the station is fully operational, however, two research expeditions will use the Princess Elisabeth station as a base camp. In November and December 2008, Dr. Frank Pattyn, glaciologist from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), will lead an expedition to study the mass loss/gain of the Antarctic ice sheet in view of recent climate change, while in January and February 2009, microbiologist Dr. Annick Wilmotte from the Université de Liège (ULg) will lead an expedition to explore the diversity of microorganisms living in rock crevasses and on gravel in the area of Utsteinen.

The International Polar Foundation pursues its fund raising activities to finish off next season's building phase of Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. The target for public donations amounts to 3 million euros in 2008, as a commitment from all citizens taking responsibility for their future through a landmark project for science and society. Total donations after the Tour & Taxis public viewing already reached 300,000 euros and IPF expects a sustained momentum. Tax deductible donations can be made to the International Polar Foundation bank account number: 000-0000090-90.

For more information, visit the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica website at www.antarcticstation.org.

IPF Press Contact

Lise Johnson +32 (0) 474 656 883
lise.johnson@polarfoundation.org