Protecting the Arctic for people, wildlife and the planet

The Arctic is one of the most unique places on Earth. It spans eight countries, is home to more than 13 million people, and provides a habitat for truly incredible wildlife. And now, it’s the battleground for one of the most important fights in environmental history.

Ice Floating on the Arctic Ocean. © Nick Cobbing / Greenpeace
The winter of 2015/ 2016 represents a record low for the yearly maximum extent of sea ice across the whole Arctic region. In Svalbard, the fjords would usually be partially covered with sea ice, but this winter most of the archipelago is surrounded by open water. The crew of the Arctic Sunrise ship, which traveled to the region during this important time, found very few patches of fast ice around the coastline. Local guides who lived on Svalbard and who joined the expedition, were surprised to see so little sea ice cover compared with previous years. © Nick Cobbing / Greenpeace

Most of us will never travel to the Arctic. Even so, this far away region touches our daily lives in ways you may not realise.

While the people-powered movement to save the Arctic won a major victory when Royal Dutch Shell halted its drilling plans — leading the United States to take the Arctic Ocean off the table for oil drilling for the next two years — the fight isn’t near over. The Arctic Ocean is not safe from the dangers of oil drilling or climate change until we have long-term policies in place to keep all fossil fuels in the ground not just for two years, but forever.

And so the struggle continues. Because when it comes to protecting the Arctic, it’s about all of us.

It’s About Climate Change

The Arctic plays a critical role in regulating global temperatures and counteracting climate change.

Here’s how it works: Arctic sea ice keeps the planet cool by reflecting sunlight. As climate change takes hold and the world gets warmer, the ice is melting and the oceans are absorbing sunlight. This makes the planet even warmer, causing the ice to melt even faster.

As the Arctic ice melts, the oil under Arctic waters becomes an increasingly attractive target for the oil industry. That’s right — oil that was once out of reach because the Arctic was frozen is now accessible because of climate change. And the very companies responsible for climate change want more oil to make climate change worse.

Action at the West Alpha Oil Rig. © Greenpeace
© Greenpeace

It’s About People

Threats to the Arctic are threats to the 4 million people who live there, particularly Indigenous groups. These communities depend on this environment for food and resources and have stewarded it for centuries.

The Arctic is home to more than 40 distinct ethnic and cultural groups. As it changes, so does the land of their heritage, languages and way of life. An oil spill in the region would amount to nothing less than a humanitarian crisis.

“What affects her community affects my community, what affects us affects them. When one nation loses the right to subsist on their own foods, it affects all of us.”

Faith Gemmill-Fredson, Native Alaskan and founder of REDOIL (Resisting Environmental Destruction On Indigenous Lands)

It’s About Wildlife

The Arctic is home to incredible animals found nowhere else in the world. All of them depend on sea ice to survive.

The amazing land animals that call the Arctic home include polar bears, foxes, reindeer and oxen, many of which are endangered. In fact, experts warn that polar bears could completely disappear from the Arctic in the next 100 years if we don’t take action soon.

And there are equally wonderful creatures living in Arctic waters. Numerous whale species, seals and walruses can only be found in the Arctic.

Close up of Seal in Svalbard. © Rasmus Törnqvist / Greenpeace
Close up of seal in Svalbard. A Virtual Reality video team joined the Greenpeace ship the Arctic Sunrise on a trip to Svalbard to document the rapidly changing Arctic to witness for themselves the majestic landscapes and wildlife affected by humanities ruthless quest for resources. © Rasmus Törnqvist / Greenpeace

Save the Arctic

The best way to protect the Arctic Ocean, its wildlife and its people is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. This means telling all companies and governments that the Arctic Ocean — and its oil — is off limits forever.

'I Love Arctic' Day of Action in Germany. © Frank Hormann / Greenpeace
More than 17,000 Greenpeace volunteers from around the world came together in over 200 cities to create an ‘I Love Arctic’ human banner in Stralsund. The activists are demanding that political leaders protect the pristine Arctic environment. © Frank Hormann / Greenpeace