A walk across Alaska’s Arctic sea ice brings to life the losses that appear in climate data – | The Invading Sea

Report on Arctic Sea Ice Decline and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Climate Change and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The rapid decline of Arctic sea ice is a critical indicator of global climate change, directly impacting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). Scientific data, corroborated by local observations in communities such as Utqiagvik, Alaska, confirms a significant reduction in sea ice coverage, thickness, and age. This report outlines the multifaceted consequences of this environmental shift on local communities, global ecosystems, and the broader framework of the SDGs.

• Satellite observations initiated in 1978 indicate that the late summer Arctic sea ice area has diminished by approximately 50%.
• The loss of reflective white ice exposes darker ocean water, which absorbs more solar radiation. This phenomenon, known as the albedo effect, creates a positive feedback loop that accelerates global warming, further undermining efforts related to SDG 13.
• Climate models project that the Arctic could experience ice-free summers within decades unless substantial reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions are achieved.

Impacts on Sustainable Communities and Livelihoods

The degradation of Arctic sea ice poses severe threats to the sustainability and resilience of coastal communities, challenging progress on several interconnected SDGs.

1. SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The shorter duration of safe sea ice cover curtails traditional hunting seasons for whales and seals, which are fundamental to the food security and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples. This directly threatens local livelihoods and food systems.
2. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): The disappearance of protective coastal sea ice, combined with thawing permafrost, accelerates coastal erosion. This process endangers critical infrastructure, including homes, roads, and entire settlements, compromising community safety and sustainability.
3. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The reduction of multiyear sea ice, which is less saline than first-year ice, eliminates a traditional source of fresh drinking water for hunters during expeditions.

Ecological Disruption and Biodiversity Threats

The changing Arctic environment has profound ecological consequences, affecting biodiversity and the health of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, which are central to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Threats to Keystone Species: The extended ice-free season deprives polar bears of their primary hunting platform for seals, threatening their survival and impacting the broader Arctic food web (SDG 15).
• Changes in Ice Composition: The Arctic ice cover is becoming progressively younger and thinner. The proportion of multiyear ice has fallen from approximately 60% in the late 1970s to around 35% today. This shift alters the physical and chemical properties of the marine environment.
• Marine Ecosystem Transformation: Increased light and heat penetration into the ocean surface are causing profound ecological shifts, impacting marine life and the overall health of the Arctic Ocean (SDG 14).

Future Projections and Global Imperatives

Continued greenhouse gas emissions will perpetuate the decline of Arctic sea ice, with significant global ramifications. Addressing this challenge is essential for achieving global sustainability targets.

1. Continued Warming: Without aggressive global action to reduce emissions in line with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), climate models predict the eventual disappearance of winter sea ice along the Alaskan coast by the end of the 21st century.
2. Economic Implications: While an ice-free Arctic summer may open new shipping routes, presenting potential economic opportunities related to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), it also carries immense ecological risks that could destabilize the Arctic ecosystem.
3. Urgency for Climate Action: The continued loss of sea ice underscores the urgent need for global cooperation to mitigate climate change. The data indicates a direct correlation between carbon emissions and ice loss, reinforcing the necessity of immediate and sustained efforts to meet the goals outlined in SDG 13.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The entire article is centered on the impacts of climate change, specifically rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions. It directly links these emissions to the decline of Arctic sea ice, stating, “All are driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, particularly burning fossil fuels.”
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article discusses the profound effects of sea ice loss on the marine ecosystem. It mentions threats to marine animals like “whales and seals” and explicitly states that the longer ice-free season can “threaten the bears’ survival.” It also warns of “profound ecological changes in the Arctic Ocean” as a consequence of warming waters.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The impacts on coastal land and terrestrial ecosystems are a key focus. The article describes “worsening coastal erosion” and “thawing permafrost,” which degrades land and affects biodiversity. The threat to polar bears, which rely on sea ice but spend summers on land, also connects to the protection of wildlife under this goal.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article highlights the direct threat climate change poses to human settlements in the Arctic. It notes that coastal erosion and thawing permafrost threaten “roads, houses and entire communities,” making them less safe and sustainable.
5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article addresses food security for local Indigenous communities. It explains that these communities rely on hunting whales and seals for “traditional food” and that the changing ice conditions make it harder and more dangerous to access these vital food sources.
6. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • A specific impact on access to clean water is mentioned. The article states that hunters traditionally used multiyear sea ice for “drinking water,” but this source has become scarce due to the ice getting younger and less prevalent, forcing them to carry their own water.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. The article describes the increased vulnerability of Alaskan coastal communities to hazards like “coastal erosion” and “thawing permafrost,” underscoring the need for enhanced resilience.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. The article’s focus on the “decline of summer sea ice area” and its “multitude of effects, from changing local ecosystems” directly relates to the need to protect this critical marine habitat from adverse impacts.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The article’s discussion of how the loss of sea ice threatens the survival of polar bears is a clear example of a species being threatened due to habitat degradation.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of people affected by disasters. The article details how climate-related disasters, such as accelerated coastal erosion, are threatening “roads, houses and entire communities,” directly impacting the safety and well-being of the population.
5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The challenges faced by local hunters, whose traditional food system is threatened by unsafe and disappearing sea ice, point to the need to ensure the resilience of these systems against climate change.
6. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article illustrates a localized challenge to this target, where hunters’ access to a traditional source of safe drinking water (multiyear ice) is diminishing, affecting their water security during hunting expeditions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Sea Ice Extent and Concentration: The article provides quantitative data that can be used as an indicator. It states that “late summer ice has declined by about 50% since routine satellite observations began in 1978” and that the ice cover is “down about 50% from 1979 to 2024.” This directly measures the health of the Arctic ecosystem.
2. Age of Sea Ice: This is a specific qualitative and quantitative indicator of environmental change. The article notes that “the amount of ice more than a year old is down to about 35%” from about 60% in the late 1970s, indicating a significant shift in the ice’s physical properties and its ability to function as a stable platform and freshwater source.
3. Length of Ice-Free Season: The article implies this indicator by mentioning that sea ice is “forming later in the fall now than it used to and breaking up earlier in the spring.” This duration can be measured to track the impact on coastal erosion, local ecosystems, and community activities.
4. Rate of Coastal Erosion: The article explicitly mentions that “coastal erosion in Alaska has accelerated over recent decades.” This rate can be measured to assess the direct physical threat to communities and infrastructure, linking to SDG 11.
5. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations: The article links the problem to its root cause, mentioning that the decline will continue as long as “greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase.” It also refers to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, such as the “current level” and a projected level of “2,000 parts per million,” which serves as a primary indicator for climate action (SDG 13).

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: theinvadingsea.com