The Arctic, encompassing the Arctic Ocean and eight countries including Greenland, is a region like no other in the world, and it’s warming at an alarming rate, bringing with it rapid change impacting life on land and at sea.

The release of greenhouse gasses from the burning of fossil fuels and other sources is causing temperatures in the Arctic to warm at twice the rate of the rest of the world, resulting in lower levels of sea ice, melting permafrost and rising sea levels all over the world. The decrease in volume and extent of Arctic sea ice has serious implications for marine mammals that depend on the ice for their survival, such as ringed seals and polar bears.

What WWF is Doing

Protecting ecologically critical areas:

WWF’s vision of a well-managed, biodiverse Arctic is one where key habitats, ecosystems and populations of priority species are shielded from the direct pressures of human activity. This means establishing a network of specially managed marine areas across the Arctic to protect marine life and help it adapt to changing conditions. WWF is also working for the implementation of effective management measures to complement these areas. In addition, WWF has a work stream dedicated to reducing the major threat to biodiversity in the Arctic—climate change.

Climate-smart, sustainable development: As the climate changes, Arctic ecosystems are under growing pressure from industry seeking to expand. Activities including oil development, mining, shipping and cruise tourism are often presented as potential pathways to economic development opportunities. WWF continues to engage in efforts to prevent new oil and gas drilling as well as ensure that local communities have access to renewable energy options. Their work is also focused on fishing that is sustainable, certified and returning the maximum benefit to local communities.

Improving governance: WWF actively engages with numerous local, national and regional institutions responsible for governing various activities in the Arctic. This work includes the Arctic Council, the high-level intergovernmental forum on Arctic conservation and sustainable development.