Alban Michon began diving at
age 11, encouraged by Cousteau
documentaries. “I admired these men
who had discovered another universe.
It fascinated me,” he says.
In 2010, Michon took part in a
45-day polar expedition, with the
aim of making a film. His message
is, undoubtedly, an environmental
one. “Arctic ice is melting faster and
faster, and there will be no ice left in
the summer in about 20 years’ time,”
shares Michon. “Sure, it will re-form in
the winter, but the underwater world
that we encountered over there will
never be the same again. The ice that
we encountered making the film went
down to more than 30 metres, and
formed utterly unique landscapes.^
But all this is doomed to disappear.”
In 2012, he organised a second
expedition, paddling 1,000 kilometres
off the coast of Greenland with
Vincent Berthet. The result was the
well-received film, Le Piège Blanc
(The Ice Trap). “These expeditions
make it possible to convey a messageAlbAn Michon
Through The norThwesT PAssAgeof environmental protection in a
strong way,” he says. “I like to show
what is beautiful, and show why it’s
important to preserve it.” His message
is not alarmist, nor does it aim to
inspire guilt. “I am optimistic, but
realistic,” he says.In 2018, Michon will travel alone
across the Northwest Passage, the sea
route that connects the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans through the Canadian
Arctic. “The 3,000 kilometre-long
channel is undergoing unprecedented
change due to melting ice. The
resultant increase in maritime transport
will increase pollution,” he explains.
Michon will meet with the Inuit to
discuss the changes due to melting
ice. “I want to tell the world what is
happening here today, so that people
can understand what is at stake in
the world tomorrow,” says Michon.
http://www.albanmichon.com“Arctic ice is melting
faster and faster, and
there will be no ice left
in the summer in about
20 years’ time”
Alban MichonIMAGES © ANDY PARANTclimate change heroes