The crew of the Greenpeace ship MY Arctic Sunrise construct a 'heart' with the flags of the 193 country members of the United Nations on an ice floe north of the Arctic Circle. The 'heart' of flags is suspended by wires a few centimetres from the ice surface and symbolizes an emotional appeal for united global action to protect the Arctic. Greenpeace International is hosting an event in New York on the eve of the UN General Assembly which will present the latest science on changes in the Polar regions and then discuss an appropriate response from the international community.
Scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) release preliminary figures suggesting that Arctic sea ice has reached the lowest recorded extent since records began in 1979. The data indicates that on September 16th Arctic ice extent covered 3.41 m km2 - a drop of at least 45% since records began.