Today is World Polar Bear Day!
Many threats jeopardize the survival of polar bears. One significant threat is the reduction of Arctic sea ice, which serves as a prime habitat for them. Since 1979, Arctic sea ice has decreased by two million square kilometers. Polar bears rely on sea ice for hunting, mating, traveling, and even denning. They follow the sea ice in pursuit of prey. When polar bears find themselves in regions with less ice, they must travel farther to locate seals for food, leading to extended fasting periods.
This habitat loss not only poses a threat to polar bears but to us as well. Why? Because what affects one impacts many.
Arctic sea ice reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere, helping the planet stay cooler. As this ice continues to diminish, the sea absorbs more sunlight, causing a warming effect on our planet. Unfortunately, the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world. Some studies indicate that it is warming possibly three times faster than any other region on Earth. Unlike elsewhere, the Arctic has experienced above-average January temperatures.
Another serious threat to polar bears is drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, a key area for polar bear denning. Drilling not only disrupts female polar bears in their efforts to raise young but also disturbs the ecological balance of the region. Additionally, drilling impacts the world at large as it results in air and water pollution and emits greenhouse gases into an already warm atmosphere.
Polar bears are classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act because they need our protection. However, in the broader context of life, our entire planet requires safeguarding, as what affects one impacts many. Considering the future of polar bears means considering what is at stake for our future.
One of the biggest impacts we can take to reduce our carbon footprint and its effect on global temperature rise is to eat more plant-based meals. One study proposed if there was a collective shift towards plant-based eating, we could reduce annual agriculture emissions by 61%. How we live our lives and the choices we make have a huge impact on other beings and the rest of the planet.
Polar Bears International, the only conservation organization that studies wild polar bears, is a great resource to learn more ways to help protect polar bear populations. Go to https://polarbearsinternational.org/what-we-do/our-mission-history/ to learn more.
Resources:
1. Polar Bears International. Polar Bears Changing Arctic. https://polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears-changing-arctic/polar-bear-facts/habitat/
2. Ask MIT Climate. 2023, April 10th. How much has Arctic ice declined, and how does that compare to past periods in the Earth's history? https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-much-has-arctic-ice-declined-and-how-does-compare-past-periods-earths-history
3. National Snow and Ice Data Center. 2025, February 3rd. Sea Ice Climbs to Second Lowest In January. https://nsidc.org/sea-ice-today/analyses/sea-ice-climbs-second-lowest-january
4. Rantanen, M., Karpechko, A.Y., Lipponen, A. et al. The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the globe since 1979. Commun Earth Environ 3, 168 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00498-3.
5. National Ocean Service. How does sea ice affect global climate?https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sea-ice-climate.html
6. Leiden University. 2022, January 10th. How plant-based diets not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also increase carbon capture. https://phys.org/news/2022-01-plant-based-diets-carbon-footprint-capture.html.
