The Arctic is no longer an untouched wilderness. More than 70 000 tourists visit Svalbard every year, and the impacts of climate change are already marked in the far north. The annual mean temperature has been rising about twice as fast in the Arctic as in the rest of the world in the past few decades. Glaciers in Svalbard are melting, and the temperature of the permafrost is rising. Alarmingly high levels of pollutants have been measured in polar bears, ivory gulls, glaucous gulls, fulmars and other species. Pollutants are carried to the Arctic from further south and east by winds and ocean currents. So far, climate change and pollution are having much less impact in Antarctica.
People are changing the climate and the environment
The polar regions are affected by human activities in distant parts of the world as well as by expanding activity within these regions. There is growing pressure to exploit fossil fuels and biological resources. The population of Svalbard is rising, and research activities are expanding. New maritime transport routes are being opened up. Tourists want to visit the most remote wilderness areas. The fisheries, research activities and tourism are also expanding considerably in and around Antarctica.
We need to learn more
About 65 per cent of the Svalbard archipelago and 84 per cent of its territorial waters are protected. Protection measures have allowed populations of several animal species to grow or recover. We need to learn more about the impacts of climate change, hazardous chemicals, fishing, hunting and tourism in the polar regions. Climate change and species of plants and animals must be monitored over time. Norway and the other members of the Arctic Council have an international obligation to protect the Arctic. Strict legislation is also needed to maintain a clean and undisturbed environment in Antarctica.