Why the Arctic is so important
The Arctic is crucial for lots of reasons. Not just because it’s home to the iconic polar bear, and four million people, but also because it helps keep our world’s climate in balance.
Arctic sea ice acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun’s rays back into space, helping keep the Earth at an even temperature.
But man-made climate change means the Arctic has warmed over the past few decades – actually about twice as much as the global average.
As the sea ice melts there’s less to reflect the rays, and more heat is absorbed by the ocean, magnifying the warming effect.
The Arctic also helps circulate the world's ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe.
We need your help to tackle climate change, and to safeguard the Arctic from its worst effects.
Location of the Arctic
Top of the world! The Arctic takes in parts of Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Greenland and the US.
About the Arctic
Unlike the Antarctic, the Arctic is an icy sea surrounded by land. (Antarctica is icy land surrounded by sea.)
It may seem a bit chilly for some of us, but the Arctic is home to around four million people, including indigenous communities, spread across eight countries.
There’s a amazing amount of wildlife too, all uniquely adapted to life in this icy landscape.
But their environment is changing, because of global warming. Temperatures vary here anyway, from -60°C to +30°C (occasionally even hotter), and the sea ice during the summer months is declining. But with global warming, that ice is shrinking fast.
Scientists predict there may be virtually no summer sea ice in the Arctic within a generation. We need to stop global warming, urgently!