Written by Kritika Shenoy - Editor: Anastasia Eginoglou
The Arctic, a vast expanse of ice and water, is a vital part of Earth's climate system and a thriving ecosystem brimming with life, despite being frequently seen as a far-off and barren region. It goes much beyond its frozen borders, since it affects biodiversity, sea levels, and weather patterns worldwide. As temperatures rise due to global warming, understanding the Arctic's significance in regulating global temperatures and the risks it faces is crucial, especially for the next generation that will be bearing the brunt of today's activities.
Here are concrete numbers to show us that the impacts of climate change are happening now. We need to change course if we want to stop further habitat loss and ensure resilient wildlife populations, both in the Arctic and around the world.
-Margaret Williams, Managing Director of WWF’s Arctic Program
The Arctic acts as a greenhouse for the world, playing the part of a massive air conditioner. The global temperature is regulated by the reflection of sunlight from its enormous ice sheets and ocean ice. But the Arctic's temperature levels are increasing three times faster than the rest of the world, which causes a lot more ice to melt at an accelerated rate. The Albedo Effect, which expedites (accelerates) warming in the atmosphere, is caused by the decrease in reflecting ice, which reveals darker ocean floors that trap more heat.
Furthermore, permafrost thawing intensifies global temperatures by releasing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. In addition to having an impact on the Arctic, these changes also alter global weather patterns, increasing the frequency of extreme heat waves.
The Arctic may appear to be a “frozen tundra”, but it is inhabited by a diverse range of fauna, each ideally equipped to live in harsh climates. But climate change is happening so quickly that it is upsetting this delicate environment and putting at risk not only individual species but also whole food pyramids.
Polar Bears on Thin Ice
Polar bears are fast becoming a representation of Arctic environmental degradation, and with good cause. These apex species use sea ice surfaces to pursue their main food. However, with the Arctic losing roughly 13% of its ice per decade, foraging has grown more challenging, requiring polar bears to travel greater distances and invest more energy, sometimes for little benefit.
Populations that reside in Western Hudson Bay have already decreased by more than 30% since 1987. As sea ice recedes, experts warn that polar bears may be almost extinct in the majority of their present area by the end of this century if emissions remain unabated.
Walruses in Peril
Walruses, famed for their comically huge tusks and sociable behaviour, rely on sea ice for resting and using the space as their breeding ground. As the ice melts, these gigantic creatures have no choice but to congregate on land in vast numbers, frequently on rocky shores far from their feeding grounds. This causes dangerous stampedes, especially around human presence or when there are predators around.
In 2014, nearly 35.000 walruses were seen jammed on an Alaskan beach - a record number that demonstrates the severity of this situation.
Caribou (Reindeer) and Starvation
The size and overall wellness of Arctic caribou herds, often known as reindeer in Russia, Europe and some other parts of the world, are dwindling. In place of snow, elevated temperatures cause freezing rain, which covers plants in frozen layers. Caribou starve because they are unable to break through the ice to get to their sustenance. Over the past 20 years, populations have fallen by more than 90% in certain places, in places such as Canada's Bathurst herd.
Arctic Foxes vs. Red Foxes
The more the heat increases, the more the predatory red fox is displacing the fluffy, frost-resistant Arctic fox and spreading its range northward. In addition to controlling food supplies, red foxes also hunt Arctic foxes and their pups. The invasion of the red fox into the Arctic fox territory is an obvious example of how the limits of existence are being redrawn due to climate change.
A Ripple Through the Food Web
Additionally, the cornerstone of the Arctic food chain, plankton blooms, is being disrupted by warming seas and melting ice. These tiny creatures provide food for krill, which are then consumed by fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Due to the drastic variations brought about by climate change, predators may miss their feeding windows, which can have a domino effect on other species.
In short, Arctic species are not simply losing homes; they are losing the steady ecosystem that all life relies on.
The most important thing for people to know about the governance of the Arctic is that we have a chance now to act to maintain the integrity of the system or to lose it. To lose it means that we will dismember the vital systems that make the Arctic work. It's not just a cost to the people who live there. It's a cost to all people everywhere.
-Dr. Sylvia Earle, renowned marine biologist and oceanographer.
Considering the challenges that we are facing, multiple initiatives are being taken to safeguard the Arctic from its doom:
Limiting greenhouse gas emissions, promoting alternative sustainable energy, and recognizing Indigenous rights are key steps toward achieving a sustainable Arctic.
Although you may be very far from the Arctic, your daily choices can help heal the world at large. Here is what you can do to make your little yet significant contribution:
The Arctic's vitality is inextricably tied to the well-being of the entire world. To protect this delicate environment, rapid action is required, driven by research and the knowledge possessed by Indigenous groups. Recognising the issue and fighting for the preservation of the Arctic is a moral obligation for young individuals and potential future leaders, not just an environmental one.
References:
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Arctic Council. (n.d.). Projects. Arctic Council. https://arctic-council.org/projects/
Earth.com. (2024, August 1). Arctic warming plays a devastating role in global climate change. https://www.earth.com/news/arctic-warming-permafrost-melt-devastating-role-accelerating-global-climate-change/
Global Choices. (n.d.). The Arctic’s role in global climate: Why protecting it matters. https://globalchoices.org/the-arctics-role-in-global-climate-why-protecting-it-matters/
Weichenrieder, S. (2023, September 5). Leveraging Indigenous knowledge for effective nature-based solutions in the Arctic. The Arctic Institute. https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/leveraging-indigenous-knowledge-effective-nature-based-solutions-arctic/
McKie, R. (2025, April 20). Melting glaciers will harm us all. Yet still we watch, unmoved. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/20/melting-glaciers-will-harm-us-all-yet-still-we-watch-unmoved
United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). Protection of the Arctic marine environment (PAME). https://www.unep.org/protection-arctic-marine-environment-pame
World Wildlife Fund. (2023, September 15). Polar bear population decline a wake-up call for climate change action. https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/polar-bear-population-decline-a-wake-up-call-for-climate-change-action
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). 11 Arctic species affected by climate change. WWF-UK. https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/11-arctic-species-affected-climate-change
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Biodiversity and nature. WWF Arctic Programme. https://www.arcticwwf.org/our-priorities/biodiversity-and-nature/
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Climate change. WWF Arctic Programme. https://www.arcticwwf.org/threats/climate-change/
Polar Bears International. (n.d.). Western Hudson Bay polar bears. https://polarbearsinternational.org/what-we-do/research/western-hudson-bay-polar-bears/
Piper, K. (2022, December 23). Polar bears are disappearing from parts of Canada, government report says. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2022/12/23/1145327852/polar-bears-canada-hudson-bay-dropping
World Wildlife Fund. (n.d.). Climate change. WWF Arctic. https://www.arcticwwf.org/threats/climate-change/