Tom Meijeraan
on Restoring Arctic Ice
“So many things have been deemed impossible until someone actually did them.”
This thought coupled with the IPCC's statement that, even in the most optimistic scenarios, the Arctic sea ice could vanish in summer by the 2030s, fuels Tom Meijeraan’s determination to fight for the ice.
The Arctic is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world. It will soon lose its power as a “global refrigerator” and regulator of global temperature. Tom is aware that an ice-free summer will create a self-reinforcing feedback loop as the ice sheets will not be able to reflect the heat and energy of the sun, also known as the Albedo effect: “The dark ocean will absorb most of the heat which further accelerates the temperature increase of the Arctic sea and the melting of the remaining ice. The disappearance of Arctic sea ice would exacerbate global warming and could trigger devastating feedback loops, such as methane release from thawing permafrost.”
He dreamt of doing more than just working on another innovation for a large corporate customer. When he met Fonger Ypma, he decided to jump on an idea presented to him that could have such a large impact: “It felt almost criminal not to pursue it!” Why would a bunch of Dutch scientists and entrepreneurs care about the Arctic, though? Their guiding principle is that they "want to support nature to preserve itself.”
Fonger was inspired by a tradition in the Netherlands: in the winter, when the temperature drops below freezing, communities often flood canals and lakes with thin layers of water to help make the ice thick enough for ice skating: “I thought, couldn’t we do that at scale? Which is, of course, a bit of a wild idea. But then it turned out that there was some academic research on this already!”
This is what they are doing now, as we speak. Tom is the co-founder of Arctic Reflections, an impact-first startup with a moonshot mission to restore Arctic sea ice to counter global warming. He is an “impactpreneur” who recognizes ice's critical role as both a delicate ecosystem and of profound social and economic importance to local Indigenous communities: “Climate change affects us all, and sustainability is of interest to everybody. However, we should educate and convince, not just bluntly tell people what to do or stop doing. We need to take dramatic measures, but we also need to build support for them. If we don't, we risk alienating people, who might become convinced that whatever they do won't be enough. This could lead them to take the easier 'solution' of completely ignoring the issue.”
Read Tom’s answers for Inspirators and have a sneak peek into the key messages he will convey as a speaker at Climate Change Summit in Romania, the largest event in CEE dedicated to climate change, on the 15-17 October in Bucharest!
Thank you, Tom, for being an Arctic Reflector!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Tom Meijeraan
Company / Institution: Arctic Reflections
Title: Co-founder
Website: https://arcticreflections.earth
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meijeraan
Country of origin: The Netherlands
Country you currently live in: The Netherlands
Your definition of Regeneration: Regeneration is a holistic approach to restore, renew, and revitalize systems, encompassing ecological, social, and economic dimensions.
At Arctic Reflections, our bold mission is to restore Arctic sea ice, recognizing its critical role as both a delicate ecosystem and of profound social and economic importance to local Indigenous communities. To achieve sustainable regeneration of nature, it is crucial to address and integrate these social and economic aspects alongside ecological restoration efforts.
Main business challenge you face: Our primary business challenge is securing sustainable financing for our operations. We are committed to restoring 100,000 km2 of sea ice, a goal that could effectively halt the current annual decline of approximately 80,000 km2 over recent decades. Funding such a monumental mission is a significant hurdle. To address this challenge, we are actively seeking government funding and exploring innovative financing strategies, such as the sale of 'Ice Preservation Units' (IPUs). Each IPU represents 1,000m2 of thickened sea ice and contributes crucial cooling effects by reflecting incoming solar energy back into space.
Main driver that keeps you going: So many things have been deemed impossible until someone actually did them! This thought, coupled with the IPCC's statement that, even in the most optimistic scenarios, the Arctic sea ice could vanish in Summer by the 2030s or 2040s, fuels my (or rather our) determination. The disappearance of Arctic sea ice would exacerbate global warming and could trigger devastating feedback loops, such as methane release from thawing permafrost.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: When I truly believe in something, I just do it. With over 20 years of experience in innovation, I'm not afraid to enter new domains where I have no prior knowledge or network. I have confidence that everything will work out well as long as you maintain faith and persevere.
The trait you most value in others: The willingness to listen to others even when you strongly disagree. Our diverse perspectives and opinions enable us to create better solutions for the problems we face
Passions & little things that bring you joy: I enjoy sailing and savoring a special beer from a local brewery on a sunny terrace.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
It wasn't a specific person who inspired me to take the regenerative path. Instead, I began to feel that I could make a more valuable impact than merely helping corporate organizations introduce yet another service. These services might solve some everyday issues but don't address the real problems in the world.
For example, early in my career, I was part of a team at a large telecom company that introduced mobile internet and mobile video services, which didn't exist back then. It was an exciting and fun time. However, looking back and seeing how much time my children spend on their mobile devices, I'm not so sure anymore whether it was time well spent…
Whenever I retire - or rather, if I retire - I want to be certain that my efforts have made a meaningful difference.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey:
Just take the first step. Don't be afraid of not knowing where the journey will lead you, and don't fear making mistakes, as we all make them. The biggest mistake is not taking the first step, because then you'll be certain never to reach your destination.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: Climate change affects us all, and sustainability is of interest to everybody. However, we should educate and convince, not just bluntly tell people what to do or stop doing. We need to take dramatic measures, but we also need to build support for them. If we don't, we risk alienating people, who might become convinced that whatever they do won't be enough. This could lead them to take the easier 'solution' of completely ignoring the issue
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: It's difficult to give universal advice as everyone is different. Losing hope is akin to giving up, but by not giving up, you have a good chance of regaining hope. Start working on something you're truly passionate about, something you enjoy, and something you can control, regardless of its impact. Working on what you love and can influence will reduce the likelihood of giving up and boost your positive mood.
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:
After I co-founded Arctic Reflections, many people asked if I had read Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. I hadn't, but I soon bought the book. It's a climate fiction novel depicting the disasters brought by climate change while also offering hope on how humanity ultimately responds.
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: I normally watch movies only once. Guilty pleasure: Grease.
Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: LinkedIn and news sites. It is good to get your news from different sources and hear the news from different perspectives.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: As a 90's kid, I love all 90's dance music, especially 'Sing Hallelujah' by Dr. Alban."
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: After finishing my studies, I sailed on a yacht from Turkey to the Seychelles. Sailing on the ocean under a dome of bright stars, accompanied by a solitary albatross, I realized the immense beauty of our planet and our smallness as humans.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Our children.
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent and urgent, there will be growing research and discussion on technical solutions aimed at mitigating climate change, such as Direct Air Capture.
Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline): For offline networking on Arctic issues, I recommend Barend's pub in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen. Located near UNIS, the university center at Svalbard, it attracts knowledgeable professors and students from all over the world who gather there after university hours to socialize and discuss the latest Arctic-related topics.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: The rapid advancements in renewable energy technologies, which are becoming more affordable and accessible.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: Global emissions are still rising, and many countries are failing to meet their climate targets. Additionally, we are already facing the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and loss of biodiversity.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Entrepreneurial spirit, convincing communication, creativity.
The quote that inspires you:
"Think big, start small, but most of all: start!" (Simon Sinek)
Your quote that will inspire us:
