Sunniva Sorby

What’s the work that you do?

I am a polar explorer, storyteller, and founder of Embrace the Planet, a project that uses polar science and personal narrative to inspire action. I design and deliver talks, school programs, and online events that connect climate change, citizen science, and mental resilience. Through my series “Pioneers of the Possible” and partnerships with organizations like NASA GLOBE, the Jane Goodall Institute, and Wild Women Expeditions, I help students, educators, and travelers move from feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis to feeling engaged, hopeful, and ready to contribute.

What keeps you going?

Witnessing climate change firsthand over three decades drives my work. I’ve watched ice disappear, species shift, and ecosystems transform in real time. But what keeps me going is seeing people—especially young people—move from climate anxiety to climate agency. When a student makes their first citizen science observation, when a traveler realizes they can contribute to research, when someone understands that polar changes affect everyone everywhere—that’s the spark. I’ve seen that transformation in 100,000 students during Hearts in the Ice. That’s not just education; that’s building a generation of climate witnesses who will demand and create change.

What’s your message to the world?

The Earth isn’t an abstract ‘environment’ – she’s a living home we’re in relationship with. When we slow down, pay attention, and let ourselves feel both the beauty and the grief, we remember that we belong here. From that place, every one of us – not just scientists, not just explorers – can become a caretaker, a citizen scientist, a good ancestor. You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to show up, stay curious, and do the next small brave thing.