“Business as usual” emissions may mean starvation, cub loss for polar bears
Posted on November, 26 2014
Climate change is threatening critical Arctic sea ice ecosystems, according to a new report, putting polar bears at risk for significant population declines by the end of the century.
Ottawa: Climate change is threatening critical Arctic sea ice ecosystems, according to a new report, putting polar bears at risk for significant population declines by the end of the century. Under business-as-usual climate projections, polar bears could eventually face starvation and reproductive failure across the entire Canadian Arctic archipelago.
Habitat loss will take a toll on polar bears
A quarter of the world’s polar bears inhabit the archipelago, where sea ice is currently present throughout the year. But according to the paper, ‘Projected Polar Bear Sea Ice Habitat in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago’, published today in the scientific journal PLOS ONE with the support of WWF, even these bears are likely to face months of open water in the coming decades.Action on climate change needed
Climate change is the primary threat to polar bears, melting the sea ice that is their critical habitat and reducing their access to prey. By 2070, the study found, over 80% of the archipelago’s ice could break up in July, forcing pregnant females to retreat to land early. And although thin ice is better habitat for seals, the bears’ main prey, it may simply not persist long enough to allow the polar bears sufficient hunting opportunities.This scenario is avoidable if the world acts now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “WWF is calling for governments to act now to ensure that they do what is necessary to ensure a new global deal is concluded in Paris next year.”
“And that agreement must ensure that the world scale up fair and just global action to ensure that global emissions peak within the decade,” says Samantha Smith of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative.
The Last Ice Area
Even under the worst-case scenario, some parts of the archipelago are predicted to retain summer ice longer, with shorter ice-free periods. A fringe of ice around northern Canada and Greenland, the “Last Ice Area”, is a potential refuge for ice-adapted life. This region requires special measures and management to maintain its viability as habitat.“Although this study looked specifically at polar bears, these findings are trouble for all life linked to ice, including the people of the Arctic. The Last Ice Area could be a vital habitat well into the future, but decisions about its management are being made now,” says Clive Tesar, WWF’s lead on the Last Ice Area project.
“We believe local people should take the lead in deciding on the future of this area. WWF has been working to ensure Inuit organizations are informed and involved.”
More information
- WWF Global Arctic Programme
http://panda.org/arctic - WWF - The Last Ice Area
http://panda.org/lasticearea
Susan Novotny
Communications Officer, WWF Global Arctic Programme, Canada
About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
Polar bear, young bear in freezing water during autumn freeze up, Bernard Spit, 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, North Slope, Alaska, Beaufort Sea
© naturepl.com / Steven Kazlowski / WWF
Polar bear, young bear in freezing water during autumn freeze up, Bernard Spit, 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, North Slope, Alaska, Beaufort Sea
© naturepl.com / Steven Kazlowski / WWF
Related links
Projected dominance of seasonal sea ice in the polar bear populations of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The seven populations range from 65-85oN in latitude, with significant variation in the length of ice-free seasons. The proportion of multiyear ice, annual ice, and ice-free waters is given by regional means, and averaged over the total area.
© Hamilton, S. (2014). Projected Polar Bear Sea Ice Habitat in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. PLOS ONE.
Projected dominance of seasonal sea ice in the polar bear populations of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The seven populations range from 65-85oN in latitude, with significant variation in the length of ice-free seasons. The proportion of multiyear ice, annual ice, and ice-free waters is given by regional means, and averaged over the total area.
© Hamilton, S. (2014). Projected Polar Bear Sea Ice Habitat in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. PLOS ONE.