Photo: BJ Kirschhoffer / Polar Bears International

Ariel view of a bear on the sea ice

Arctic Sea Ice Day

Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th!

Polar Bears International’s Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th. We created the day to draw attention to the rapidly melting Arctic ecosystem, why it matters, and how we can help slow this trend.

A polar bear walks along the sea ice edge

Photo: Jenny Wong

Did You Know?

The Arctic is now warming nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet, causing the sea ice to melt. Sea ice is crucial for polar bears as well as other species like beluga whales, seals and humans. A new study projects an ice-free Arctic in September by mid-century, with impacts beyond the Arctic to our own backyards.

But it’s not just about polar bears.

Sea ice serves as the earth’s air conditioner, helping to keep our planet cool. It’s also the basis of the Arctic marine food web and is used by Northern communities for transportation and access to food.

It's important to work together to protect the sea ice that all of us rely on.

Let’s Talk About It

What can you do to move the world toward action on climate change and save Arctic sea ice for polar bears? Start by talking about it.

Why? Because if no one is talking about it, we can’t build support for meaningful action.

Here are a few tips for having these important conversations:

  1. Focus on what draws you together. Instead of bombarding people with facts, focus on what connects you to the other person—whether it’s skiing, a local extreme weather event, a love of fly-fishing, or children and grandchildren. Then connect the dots between what you both care about and our changing climate.

  2. Listen. Show respect for other person’s experiences by actively listening in the conversation. Ask questions and talk about their concerns. Interacting from a place of mutual respect will help you maintain a more honest and open dialogue.

  3. Don’t pretend to have all the answers. You don’t need to understand complex climate models or all the proposed solutions. The point is simply to talk about the issue and share concerns instead of avoiding them. By making climate change an everyday topic, you’ll help normalize caring for the environment and the need to change systems—bringing your friends, family, and community into the conversation.

Special thanks to Science Moms and NNOCCI for teaching people around the world how to talk about climate warming.

Photo: BJ Kirschhoffer / Polar Bears International

Arctic sea ice chunks floating in the water

Check Out Our Toolkit

Interested in using your voice and platform to raise awareness? Our toolkit provides extra action tools, resources, and ways to get involved!

Other Ways to Get Involved on Arctic Sea Ice Day

Donate to support our work.

You can make a difference! Together, we can save sea ice and ensure polar bears roam the Arctic for generations to come.

Tune into our live events.

We’re planning live programs on Arctic Sea Ice Day and will also be launching our live Beluga Cams. Stay tuned for our schedule.

Learn about Arctic sea ice.

Discover surprising facts about this remarkable frozen ecosystem and its connection to our global climate.

Explore the world of belugas.

Watch our live Beluga Cams and learn why sea ice is important to polar bears, people, and other wildlife.

Watch a video on sea ice ecoregions.

Learn about the 4 sea ice habitats where polar bears roam—and why some sea ice is better for the bears than others.

Learn More About Climate Change Threats

Explore Other Events