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Threats to the Arctic

NASA image of arctic sea ice.
Climate change impacts on the Arctic:
  • Global warming in the Arctic will be around two or three times greater than the rest of the world.
  • Polar bears could become extinct by the end of this century if there is an almost complete loss of summer sea ice cover.
  • Some arctic fisheries will disappear.
  • There will be new health hazards for both animals and humans.
  • We are likely to see more forest fires and storm damage to coastal communities in the Arctic.
  • Glaciers, sea ice, tundra will melt, contributing to global sea level rises.
  • The area of the Greenland Ice Sheet that experiences some melting has increased by about 16% from 1979 to 2002. Melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet will result in a sea-level rise globally of seven meters.
  • As snow and ice melt, the ability of the Arctic to reflect heat back to space is reduced, accelerating the overall rate of global warming.
  • A warmer Arctic could halt the Gulf Stream, which brings warmer water and weather to north-western Europe.
  • More on this report...

One of the world's great wild places under seige

The Arctic is an important indicator of the state of global well-being. The impacts of climate change will be felt most intensely in the Arctic and toxics produced in far away places find their way to the north via wind and ocean currents.

Climate change

According to leading scientists and policy makers, human-induced climate change can no longer be dismissed as a theoretical, academic concept or a politically motivated doomsday prophecy.

The latest findings indicate that our planet is warming faster than at any time in the last 10,000 years.

Climate change in the Arctic is expected to be among the greatest of any region on Earth.

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Pollution and industrial development

The Arctic is a natural ‘sink’ for toxic chemicals.

These chemical are produced around the world and arrive in the Arctic via wind and water currents. It’s also a storage site for radioactive waste.

The Arctic is the object of intense mining and oil development interests, in particular in Alaska, Canada and the Barents Sea.

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Over-hunting

Damage done to the fragile arctic ecosystem is extremely long lasting. Indeed, in some cases, it may be irreversible.

Populations of some whales are still dangerously low after centuries of hunting even though most commercial whaling has ceased. 

Fish stocks in some arctic waters are being fished to extinction, while sea birds and even polar bears suffer from over-hunting in parts of the Arctic.

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