The conference, which explores the impact of climate change on the frozen areas of our planet, is expected to draw 500 delegates to Wellington’s young convention centre, Tākina in February 2026.
The bid was led by earth sciences professor and director at the Antarctic Research Centre, Tim Naish, and research fellow in Glaciology at Victoria University of Wellington, Lauren Vargo.
“Global warming is melting the polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers at an alarming rate and will directly impact four billion people who live on the world’s coastlines through rising seas and [those] in high mountainous regions who rely on water stored in glaciers for food supply,” said Naish.
The conference will be hosted by the Antarctic Research Centre at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and is being sponsored by the World Climate Research Programme. The meeting is part of the United Nations International Decade of the Cryosphere and will gather both scientists and policymakers.
“We have a very active ice and snow research community in New Zealand,” said CliC’s scientific steering group co-chair, professor Edward Hanna, from the University of Lincoln in the UK.
“We want to showcase their work and raise the profile of their involvement and of other scientists and early-career researchers across the wider Australasian region and Southern Hemisphere, where some of the most rapid changes in the cryosphere are taking place.”
The bid received support from Business Events Wellington and Tourism New Zealand Business Events. The event is expected to have an economic impact for New Zealand of nearly $1 million.
“Climate change is a focus area for Wellington’s universities, businesses, science research institutes and its city council,” said Business Events Wellington manager, Irette Ferreira.
“Wellington is home to some of the brightest minds in this field and having them collaborate with other experts from around the world can help us to fast track the progress made locally as well as make a global contribution,” she said.
