Arctic connected | Shining a light on Arctic warming

The Arctic—which is warming nearly four times faster than the global average over the past four decades—has long been viewed as “ground zero” of the climate crisis. Summer Arctic sea ice extent is shrinking by 13% per decade. Sea ice forms in the winter and then partially melts during the warmer summer months.

Within the next few decades, it is projected that the Arctic will be completely ice-free in the summertime. Since the ocean’s surface absorbs more heat from the sun when ice-free, instead of reflecting it, the Arctic Ocean’s temperature will increase, causing more melting—contributing even further to climate warming.

This accelerated warming is melting not only sea ice, but also the Greenland Ice Sheet and Arctic glaciers, which in turn, causing sea levels to rise. Higher sea levels and warmer seas are warming the icy Arctic shores, exacerbating sea ice melt and permafrost thaw. Unfortunately, many of these changes will be irreversible for hundreds to thousands of years.

Sea ice loss is affecting more than just the ocean

The loss of sea ice is endangering polar bear populations that rely on ice to capture prey, such as seals—and they aren’t the only ones affected. The decline of many Arctic species is negatively impacting Indigenous communities that depend on these animals to support their way of life—for everything from the food they eat to the clothes they wear. As the ice melts, Arctic waterways are also filling up with ships, increasing underwater noise pollution and the risks of oil spills, which are all negatively affecting the Arctic’s delicate ecosystems.

Sea ice melt and rising sea levels have also led to coastal erosion and flooding in the Arctic. As much as five metres of coastline is disappearing every year in some areas of Alaska, causing entire communities to relocate. Permafrost melt is having the same effect, leading to unstable terrain and impassable roads, creating transportation risks and increased repair costs.

Arctic warming has a ripple effect

The changes that are currently happening in the Arctic don’t just affect the North. The Arctic acts like a global refrigerator, drawing in and cooling warmer ocean water from the South. This circulation of ocean water keeps areas  such as the tropics cooler than they otherwise would be, or areas, such as Northern Europe, warmer than they are expected to be.

With Arctic warming and more open water expected all year round, the region can no longer moderate the northern hemisphere’s climate as effectively. We are only now learning how this is affecting ocean circulation and weather patterns. It is also having dire consequences for many people around the globe, as it is already contributing to more heatwaves, massive rainfall, and more severe storms.

Impacts of climate change are being felt around the globe

The changes that are already happening in the Arctic are just a snapshot of what’s to come in other parts of the world. Sea levels are at an all-time high globally and are projected to continue to rise due to the irreversible melting on human-relevant time scales of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. As glaciers get smaller, the amount of water available for agriculture, hydropower, and for use in our homes will also decrease.

These changes are hitting Small Island Developing States and other vulnerable coastal communities particularly hard. Rising sea levels, combined with changing wind patterns and sea surges, are destroying homes and infrastructure and displacing communities in the region. By 2030, it is estimated that half of the world’s population  living  in coastal areas  will be exposed to flooding, storms and tsunamis.

We need to work together to make a changes now

Arctic sea ice melt, global sea level rise and recent extreme weather events, have all underscored the need for bold and urgent action to limit global warming. Slashing greenhouse gas emissions is the only solution for the Arctic—and for the rest of the planet.

In November 2022, world leaders met in Egypt for the COP27 climate summit to discuss further action on mitigating climate change and meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. By failing to agree to phase-out fossil fuels at COP27, leaders are not doing enough to achieve the 2 degree, or 1.5 degree, target set out in the agreement as greenhouse gas concentrations are still rising despite 27 COPs.

Swift action is only way to protect the Arctic’s future

If we want the Arctic to have a chance, its ecosystems must also be protected from harmful oil and gas exploration. Building renewable energy, providing workers in the oil and gas sector with new job opportunities, and protecting the Arctic region from further oil and gas activity must be a priority.

At the same time, we must find ways to strengthen Arctic nature’s ability and the capacity of Arctic Peoples to adapt. This means reversing biodiversity loss to secure a nature positive world and protecting at least 30 per cent of the planet’s lands and oceans by 2030.  To meet this goal, WWF Arctic Programme has developed a concrete proposal and tool for marine planning and management in the Arctic that could make a real difference—it’s called ArcNet.

But time is running out. It is critical that we close the gap between talk and action by putting a stop to global warming, and not just halting, but reversing, nature loss by 2030. Every tenth of a degree of global warming that we can avert matters. Governments need to immediately adopt stronger targets and put policies in place to meet them. There is no second chance.