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THE ARCTIC
A diverse landscape that supports life on Earth
Facts about the Arctic
The Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land that has been covered in ice year-round for the last 5,500 years. Its diverse landscapes—from sea ice to coastal wetlands, tundra, mountains, wide rivers and the sea itself—support abundant wildlife, including emblematic species like the polar bear, bowhead whale and narwhal.
The Arctic is also home to around four million people, with Indigenous communities spread across all eight Arctic countries: Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Greenland and the US.
The Arctic has attracted global attention in recent years: as ground zero for climate change, the region is warming nearly three times more quickly than the rest of the world. Changes in the Arctic can be locally devastating, but because of how the Earth’s climate systems work, they also affect the rest of the world.
The Arctic is now heavily enmeshed in global economic markets. Its inhabitants depend on collaborations across borders. When it comes to preserving ecosystems, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods for local people, the challenges are more complex than ever before, and they require us to prioritize cooperation both in and beyond the Arctic. Arctic knowledge holders and scientists need a place at the table to shape policies that will support and benefit all life in the region and the rest of the planet.
Why is it important to protect the Arctic?
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The Arctic supports nature that we depend on
Nature supplies the air we breathe, the water we drink and the insects that pollinate the food we eat. It sustains us and everything around us. The Arctic’s unique ecosystems provide food, livelihoods and cultural identity for those who live in the region.
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The Arctic is home to four million people
For thousands of years, the Arctic has been home to Indigenous Peoples and local communities. For people living in the Arctic, climate change is the driving force in many of the environmental, economic and societal transitions affecting the region today.
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The Arctic keeps our climate in balance
The Arctic’s average temperature is warming almost three times the global average. Its environment is suffering from the amplified effects of the climate crisis. Meanwhile, the region is trying to cope with the impacts of a global rush for its resources.
