Arctic connected | Arctic biodiversity under threat

There is no question that our planet is facing an extinction crisis. Since 1970, species around the globe—from mammals and birds to fish and reptile populations—have seen a decrease, on average, of 69%. In the Arctic, climate warming and biodiversity loss are more interlinked than any other place on Earth.

Temperatures in the Arctic have risen more than two times faster than the global average. This has led to sea ice melting at unparalleled speed, negatively affecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. As the Arctic warms, the ice pack is also forming later in the season. This means polar bears —that rely on sea ice for hunting seals—must wait longer in many parts of the Arctic to begin hunting each autumn. Forced to stay on land for longer periods, they find different species to prey on. But these species are often lower in fat than their preferred diet of seals, which is resulting in a higher proportion of bear cubs dying before their first birthdays.

Arctic species on the move

Over the past two decades, polar bears and Pacific walrus have changed their behaviour as sea ice in some parts of the Arctic recedes north earlier in summer. More polar bears now make their dens on land instead of on sea ice and Pacific walrus form huge, crowded groups along coastlines, often farther from their feeding grounds. Receding sea ice is also allowing killer whales to move further north, enabling them to prey on narwhal, beluga, and bowhead whales. The climate crisis is also altering seasonal activities,  population numbers  and migratory patterns of other important Arctic species, such as caribou and salmon. This is resulting in food shortages for people living in the Arctic, especially Indigenous communities, and jeopardizing their livelihoods, cultures, and health.

Building pressure from industry

But climate change is not the only factor behind Arctic biodiversity loss. Expanding industries are building roads to mine sites and drilling for oil and gas, putting even more pressure on Arctic species, habitats and ecosystems. This development is happening despite the fact that new Arctic oil and gas exploration and production goes against the Paris Agreement’s goal to stay within the 1.5°C limit of global warming.

Industrial development also poses a tremendous risk to the Arctic ecosystems and species that some 4 million people living in the region depend on for their food, livelihoods and cultural identity. Roads cutting through the tundra inhibit  caribou migration and adaptation. Underwater noise from drilling makes it harder for whales to navigate, and oil spills endanger whole marine ecosystems. Finding ways to maintain a healthy, diverse and connected web of life in the Arctic, from zooplankton to fish to whales and seabirds, will not only contribute to the well-being of Arctic peoples, but to nature and communities around the world.

An uncertain future for the Arctic

Since every species responds differently to the impacts of the climatic crisis, it is impossible to predict exactly what the “new” Arctic will look like. This is due in part to the fact the Arctic has such a range of ecosystems, including: tundra, polar deserts, glaciers, ice caps, mountains, rivers, deltas, wetlands, coastlines, sea ice, polynyas, gyres and open ocean.

What we do know is that these ecosystems have never known the pace of warming we are currently experiencing—and that change is inevitable. Even if the world rallies and successfully limits warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, it is unlikely that we will be able to reverse the retreat of Arctic sea ice for many decades.  But every fraction of a degree counts, especially in the Arctic, and we must work together to stop the complete decimation of Arctic ecosystems.

It is time for major emitters to step up and do more. And it is critical that we establish conservation measures that mitigate the impacts of industrial pressures and find ways to support ecosystem resilience.

Arctic nature must be protected

At WWF, we are advocating for at least 30% of all land, seas and fresh water to be protected. But this 30-by-30 initiative (30% by 2030) must be led by all rights-holders and stakeholders. Supporting Arctic Indigenous Peoples and communities in their efforts to govern and sustainably manage their lands, territories and waters is one of the ways that WWF seeks to address the interlinked challenges of nature loss, climate change, and social and environmental inequalities.

It is critical that we act now and work together to halt and reverse nature loss and secure a nature-positive world. We want more nature by 2030, not less.