Arctic Sea Ice Day Ambassador Toolkit

The Arctic is now warming nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet, causing the sea ice to melt. In several regions around the Arctic, this is reducing the time polar bears have to hunt seals, increasing their fasting period, and forcing them to rely on their fat stores for longer periods. If the Arctic continues to warm at the current rate, we will see fewer polar bears in fewer places across the Arctic, making them more vulnerable to extinction. A new study predicts that the Southern and Western Hudson Bay polar bears — bellwethers for other polar bear populations — will likely become extinct if we fail to meet the goals set at the Paris Climate Agreement.

Sea ice is the Earth’s air conditioner, it helps keep our planet cool and regulates the Earth’s climate. Melting sea ice doesn’t just impact polar bears, it’s bad for people too. In order to protect polar bears and the sea ice we all depend on, we need to move away from using fossil fuels for energy altogether. 

Sea ice is as important to the Arctic ecosystem as soil is to a forest. Sea ice is much more than a frozen hunting platform for polar bears: It supports the entire Arctic food chain! When ocean water gets cold enough to freeze, it expels salt, causing channels to form inside the ice. As sunlight filters through, algae grow in these channels, creating an underwater garden that forms the base of the food chain. Together, we can preserve this habitat for polar bears, people, and other wildlife.

Key Links & Polar Bears International Handles

Twitter: @PolarBears
Facebook: @PolarBearsInternational
Instagram: @polarbearsinternational 
Short Link for more information: pbears.org/arcticseaiceday

Hashtags

#ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #TalkAboutIt #ClimateAction

Sample Posts

The following are some sample posts for use on social media with your own visuals or our included graphics. Kindly tag Polar Bears International and/or share a link to our website. We deeply appreciate your support in spreading the word!

Share What You Learn or Re-Purpose Our Content

• Discover the four major sea ice eco-regions with our chief scientist, Dr. Steven Amstrup! These four regions are defined by how the sea ice forms and changes in different parts of the Arctic throughout the year and how polar bears respond to these changes. 

•  Explore facts on our website about Arctic sea ice and learn more about current sea ice conditions from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Celebrate the arrival of belugas whales in the Churchill River estuary's warm waters, and tune into our live Beluga Cams for Arctic inspiration. Learn why belugas need sea ice and take part in the Beluga Bits citizen scientist project!