Melting Arctic ice risks uncontrollable climate effects
Rising temperatures in the Arctic could lead to uncontrollable climate change effects across the world, according to the Arctic Resilience Report. Researchers warn that the increasing speed at which the ice cap is melting could trigger 19 “tipping points,” resulting in disastrous global consequences. Current temperatures in the region are at a record 20C above average for this time of year, whilst sea ice is at an all-time low. The report, the most comprehensive of its kind, identifies potential effects including higher releases of methane, rising ocean temperatures, altered weather patterns and fishery collapses.
The project’s 2013 Interim Report provided the conceptual foundations for this final report, as well as a detailed survey of resilience research in the Arctic to date. This Final Report extends that effort by providing a novel assessment of Arctic change and resilience, including factors that appear to support or weaken resilience. It provides an overview of tools and strategies that can be used to assess and build resilience in the Arctic, and considers how the Arctic Council can contribute to those efforts.

The authors hope that the insights presented in the report will help Arctic nations to better understand the changes taking place in the region, and contribute to strengthening Arctic people’s capacity to navigate the rapid, turbulent and often unexpected changes they face in the 21st century.