Dr. Olav Orheim is a distinguished glaciologist, climatologist and polar expert who has spent more than thirty years studying the effects of global warming... read more

With the dynamics, the consequences and the solutions regarding climate change subject to fierce ongoing debate, this month's Comment Visions gets an expert's perspective on the issues.

An international authority on the polar regions and a distinguished glaciologist and climatologist, Dr. Olav Orheim has been researching the polar regions for more than 30 years. He has visited the Arctic 50 times and made 18 field trips to the Antarctic. Dr. Orheim has seen up close the effects of climate change, having spent over two decades as the Director of Research at Norway's Polar Research Institute. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Olaf in 2007 for his services to polar research.

In this wide-ranging interview Dr Orheim discusses the issues at the heart of the debate over climate change, addressing misunderstanding over the nature of global warming, the role of carbon emissions, and the human challenges posed by these changes to our planet.

With the future extent of climate change as yet unknown the search for political and practical solutions remains vital and Olaf Orheim looks at what can be done to engage with the problem.

Read Dr Olav Orheim's Biography