Polar Bears and Climate Change

Sea ice loss is at an all-time high with the Arctic experiencing the warmest temperatures in four centuries. The amount of ice lost in 2012 broke all previous records meaning that the ice is melting – and melting fast. The melting ice has been caused by large amounts of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.  Scientists predict that by 2040, the Arctic will be entirely ice free unless action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What does this mean for polar bears?

Polar bears rely on the ice to hunt, breed and den. There is evidence that polar bears are leaving the sea ice to build their dens on land, even in the winter. In the Western Hudson Bay area, permafrost has declined meaning that the denning areas are vulnerable to forest fires in the summer. Without the sea ice, polar bears are unable to hunt for food. Shorter hunting seasons have made a 22% drop in the polar bear population in the Churchill area. There has also been a decline in cub survival rates in the last 30 years.

Scientists say that human caused climate change is the biggest threat to the polar bear populations. Fortunately, they say that there is still time to save the polar bears if the amount of greenhouse gasses emissions is significantly reduced by the end of the decade. 

To learn more about polar bears and climate change, go to

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears/essentials/climate-change