Protecting the Heart of the Arctic
Protecting the Heart of the Arctic
At the very top of the world lies a place few have visited: the Central Arctic Ocean.
For a long time, this ecosystem was characterized by both extremes and stability. As winters of permanent darkness gave way to summers of midnight sun, the sea ice—which forms the foundation of life here, from algae to ringed seals and polar bears—remained.
That’s beginning to change. As the climate crisis accelerates, this region is being hit especially hard, warming up to four times faster than the rest of the planet. The heart of the Arctic is starting to melt.
The consequences won’t just be felt here. The Central Arctic Ocean plays a vital role in regulating the planet’s temperature and shaping weather patterns around the world. The coastal and Indigenous communities that surround the ocean will also be impacted—their connected seas, and the animals many people rely on for their food security and livelihoods, are already feeling the effects of climate change.
The ice is crucial in another way, too: it has formed a natural barrier to the expansion of industrial impacts. Without it, one of our world’s last great wildernesses could soon come under threat.
Image – A map showing the Central Arctic Ocean.
Credit – Oceans North.
Preserving & Adapting
Some companies and countries are already proposing transpolar shipping and deep-sea mining operations in the region. These could have irrevocable impacts on an ecosystem that’s already at risk from climate change.
To protect the heart of the Arctic, we have to freeze the footprint of industrial expansion into the Central Arctic Ocean. This will only be possible if we all work together, from the countries surrounding the Arctic to the Indigenous Peoples who call it home.
The good news is that we’ve done it before. In 2018, countries came together and put a moratorium on commercial fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean. The agreement recognized the importance of gathering science and Indigenous knowledge before any fishing takes place, as well as the necessity of including Arctic Indigenous Peoples as active participants in future management. Now we must do it again. Along with our partners, Oceans North is calling for a new agreement that:
- Recognizes the importance of the Central Arctic Ocean for people and the climate.
- Places a moratorium on deep sea mining and transpolar shipping in the Central Arctic Ocean.
- Commits to gathering more information about the Central Arctic Ocean from scientists and Indigenous Knowledge holders.
- Includes Arctic Indigenous Peoples as full members in future decision-making about the region
Help Us Protect the Heart of the Arctic
Together, we can help ensure the future of the Central Arctic Ocean. Sign the Citizens Pledge and join others around in the world who are calling on countries to safeguard these waters for future generations.
