50 Stories: Saving the Arctic

WWF Canada

On April 29, 2011, WWF celebrated 50 years of environmental conservation. Join us as we highlight 50 stories in 50 days, looking back at what we’ve achieved together and looking forward to another 50 years.
When you see the Arctic on TV, its frozen seas and vast expanses of ice and snow look like they come from another planet.
But the damage climate change is causing to the region could have catastrophic consequences much closer to home.

Polar bear in blue ice, Spitsbergen, Norway (c) Wim van Passel/WWF-Canon
What’s at stake?
As the Earth warms up, melting Arctic ice will lead to rising sea levels, which will play havoc with our coasts. And global warming in the Arctic may release huge reserves of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. These could speed up the effects of climate change everywhere if they’re released.
What happens in the Arctic directly affects the rest of the planet. That’s one reason why we’ve made protecting this amazing place, and the animals that make it their home, a priority.
The story so far
We’ve been active in the Arctic for decades. Back in 1973, we helped convince the five governments of the region to sign a treaty to protect polar bears. Controls on hunting were so successful that 10 years later the number of bears in Norway had doubled.
At the same time we’re protecting unique habitats and wildlife, such as polar bears, walruses and bowhead whales. More than 350,000 sq km of the Arctic is now protected from threats such as mining and oil drilling.
Did you know?
Polar bears are so well insulated that they have to move slowly to avoid overheating.
Facts and stats

  • >10% – rate at which summer sea ice is disappearing per decade, threatening species like polar bears
  • ¼ – estimated proportion of the world’s untapped oil and gas reserves found in the Arctic. As the ice moves out, oil companies are moving in.
  • 25,000 – polar bears in the wild today


What next?
Today, climate change is the biggest threat facing the Arctic and its wildlife. Polar bears, for example, depend on summer sea ice to hunt seals. As the Earth heats up and the ice disappears, scientists estimate that two-thirds of polar bears could be wiped out by 2050. “Species like polar bears represent the Arctic ecosystem, which is responsible for moderating global climate,” says Geoff York, who co-ordinates our work on polar bears and other Arctic species. “Conserving these species and their habitat protects us from a warming climate. Arctic species are also a critically important aspect of indigenous cultures essential to the food security of those living in the region.
We’re researching how climate change is affecting Arctic ecosystems, and how we can help them adapt and survive. Our research into the effects of warming in the Arctic is also helping to influence international action on climate change.
We’re also supporting research on climate change and work with communities living in the Arctic, to help people get to grips with reality of climate change and its local and global effects.
At the same time, we’re working with governments and companies to reduce their impact on the Arctic. We need to give Arctic animals both the time and space to adapt.
What you can do
Reducing your carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels can help save the Arctic. Visit our Living Planet Community to learn how.
Find out more about our work in the Arctic.
Follow polar bears in the wild with our interactive Polar Bear Tracker.
 
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