You might think that people in the North are happy about having a break from the cold. The benefits of warmer weather are far outweighed by the negative impacts that climate change will have on the land, water, wildlife and people in the North.

Some scientists predict that if climate change occurs at the same rate that it is now, the average global temperature will rise by 1.4° to 5.8° Celsius in the next 100 years. They also predict that Arctic temperatures will rise twice as much as the global average. That’s almost 12° Celsius!

One of the effects of climate change in the north is the melting of the sea ice. Sea ice is ice that is formed on top of ocean waters. Sea ice is important because many animals including polar bears, walruses and seals live on the sea ice. Polar bears hunt for their food on the ice. The melting ice is already affecting the ability of polar bears to find food.

If a lot of sea ice melts it will affect the amount of water in the oceans. This will cause the level of water to rise. Land that is near the ocean could be covered by water if the sea level rises.

Higher temperatures also mean that permafrost will melt. Permafrost is the layer of permanently frozen ground that is under the top layer of soil. Every summer the top layer of soil thaws and allows plants to grow. When the permafrost thaws, the ground becomes soft. Buildings, roads, airports, water pipes, and electricity poles will become damaged because they will not have a solid foundation.

Wetlands provide an important habitat for many animals in Canada’s North. Some wetlands will dry up when the temperatures rise. This will also affect the amount of water in lakes, rivers and streams.

Wildlife that has adapted to the unique climate of the Arctic will be negatively affected by climate change. Some scientists say that for every degree Celsius that the climate warms, animals will have to move 150 km north to find suitable habitat. Animals that already live in the extreme north will be at risk of extinction.

Climate change has affected the lives of people in the Arctic too. Inuit people have reported that they have a harder time traveling by dog sled and snowmobile because there is not as much snow and ice as there used to be. Climate change also affects the amount of freshwater there is available to drink.