No other habitat I’ve ever visited has felt like being on another planet in the way that Arctic sea ice does. Silent in its remoteness, yet booming with sounds of wind and water. Solid underfoot, yet continuously cracking and shifting below. Seemingly barren, yet teeming with life.
I am constantly in awe that any animal, let alone the largest bear on Earth, can make a living in this harsh, unrelentingly cold environment. It’s one of my favorite places to visit, but every time I do I can’t help but think of how much it’s changing and what that means for all of us.
Today is World Oceans Day, and at Polar Bears International that means we are raising awareness about the frozen, salty ocean that polar bears and people depend on.
Sea ice is so much more than frozen ocean water. It’s central to the Arctic ecosystem: Algae grow in and underneath the ice, polar bears roam above, and diverse species in the middle rely on it for survival. So do we.
Arctic sea ice helps regulate global climates by reflecting sunlight away from the earth, cooling the entire planet and keeping us at a stable temperature.
It’s important to protect Arctic sea ice for both people and polar bears, but we need to work together on this.
Unlike many terrestrial habitats, we can’t put a fence around the frozen ocean ecosystem and we can’t grow more sea ice whenever we want.
The key to keeping our climate functioning the way it should, and to protecting this frozen Arctic ocean layer that supports life around the globe, is to reduce carbon emissions now and to switch to renewable sources of energy like solar and wind.
Please join us in celebrating World Oceans Day and protecting Arctic sea ice by checking out our new Advocacy Toolkit and finding an action that works for you.
