• The melting of sea ice, glaciers, and ice caps raises sea levels and destroys habitats for many species. Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases, worsening climate change. This warming also leads to more extreme weather events like intense hurricanes, heatwaves, and heavy rainfall, affecting both ecosystems and human communities
• Environmental pollution, including microplastics, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and gases, has spread to even the remote polar regions. These pollutants pose serious health risks to humans and animals, causing hormonal and neurological problems. They also disrupt the food chain, leading to higher toxin levels in top predators and harming ecosystem integrity and biodiversity.
• Threats to biodiversity are causing the decline of species adapted to extreme conditions. Climate change, pollution, and human activities upset the balance of these environments. Polar bears and seals, which need sea ice, are losing their habitats and food sources. Invasive species also threaten native wildlife by competing for resources. This decline disrupts food webs, weakens ecosystems, and affects the planet’s health and climate regulation.
• Local environmental changes are deeply affecting the lives of Indigenous peoples in polar regions. Climate change is melting sea ice, thawing permafrost, and changing weather patterns, disrupting the habitats of key species like seals, fish, and caribou. This makes traditional hunting and gathering difficult, and thinning ice and unpredictable weather make travel dangerous. These changes cause food insecurity, cultural loss, and economic challenges, forcing Indigenous communities to adapt with limited resources.

These expeditions are pushing the boundaries of oceanographic science and polar research, and we’re privileged to be able to support their ground-breaking efforts.