Arctic
Climate change is causing major changes in the Arctic region with devastating consequences to the native flora and fauna, as well as to the people living in this area.
A report released in June 2010, the "Arctic Biodiversity Report" summarizes the various factors that endanger this unique region.
"In 2008, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) passed a resolution expressing ‘extreme concern’ over the impacts of climate change on Arctic indigenous peoples, other communities, and biodiversity [1]. It highlighted the potentially significant consequences of changes in the Arctic. Arctic Biodiversity Trends – 2010: Selected Indicators of Change provides evidence that some of those anticipated impacts on Arctic biodiversity are already occurring. Furthermore, although climate change is a pervasive stressor, other stressors, such as long range transport of contaminants, unsustainable harvesting of wild species, and resource development are also impacting Arctic biodiversity. These key findings reflect the information in the 22 indicators presented in this report. A more complete scientific assessment of biodiversity in the Arctic will emerge from the full Arctic Biodiversity Assessment, currently in preparation."
The Arctic sea ice continues to melt at an alarming rate, and might be almost completely ice free in about 30 years. Details on the decline and figures can be found at the Arctic Snow and Ice Data Center.
Not only is the extent of the sea ice declining, but also the ice thickness. Thinner ice is melting faster, such that the loss of sea ice will accelerate over the years.
The last time the Arctic was ice-free was more than 800.000 years ago.
