Protecting Polar Bears And The Rest of The Arctic Wildlife

The Arctic, one of the most breathtaking ecosystems on Earth, is changing quickly than ever before. Icebergs are melting, seas are warming, and the very foundation of life in this frozen world is disappearing. Among the animals that are most at risk are polar bears, the iconic, large, white, furry giants that we all know and love. However, their struggles aren’t just a faraway problem—it’s a warning sign for our entire planet.

Did you know that global warming and climate change are threatening polar bears and other Arctic wildlife’s well-being? Before we determine that, it’s important to understand these terms. What is global warming? What is climate change?

Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earth’s average temperature over the past century because of greenhouse gases that were released by people burning fossil fuels. Climate change is long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, which can be natural, due to the changes in the sun’s activity, or large volcanic eruptions. However, in recent years, human activity has been the cause of all this.

As the Arctic sea ice melts, polar bears will find it hard to hunt, mate, and breed. They will also find it difficult to survive, and their population will decrease. Since polar bears depend on sea ice for many important details of their lives, two-thirds of the polar bear population could be extinct by 2050 if the greenhouse gas-fueled global warming continues melting the Arctic ice. Therefore, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to their survival.

Oil and gas drilling in the Alaskan Arctic, including the Willow project, is harming polar bears and other wildlife, increasing the likelihood of polar bears becoming extinct. Furthermore, according to a CarbonBrief article, temperatures in the Arctic are rising nearly four times as fast as the global average.

Scientists have defined 19 key regions where polar bears live, extending across Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the US. All 19 subcontinents are experiencing some level of ice loss. Professor Andrew Derocher, who is an expert in polar bear ecology and conservation at the University of Alberta, states, “Without sea ice, there is no sea ice ecosystem-and losing that ecosystem includes losing polar bears.”

How can we help polar bears and the Arctic wildlife?

We can reduce our energy use to protect the sea ice habitat for Arctic animals. We can also reduce the energy we use to not only protect, but to preserve the sea ice habitat for polar bears and future generations. Moreover, reducing the amount we drive can also help by creating less pollution. Joining or setting up a “bike to work” or “bike to school” program in our community can also benefit the Arctic wildlife. Together, we can make sure polar bears and other Arctic wildlife stay out of harm’s way.