The Changing Global Arctic offers an in-depth look at how the Arctic is transforming at an unprecedented rate and their global implications. These four short films, co-produced with BBC Natural History Unit, address four different yet critically important aspects of Arctic change, how they affect the livelihood of Arctic communities and the global ecosystem at large.
These four short films, co-produced with BBC Natural History Unit, address four different yet critically important aspects of Arctic change, how they affect the livelihood of Arctic communities and the global ecosystem at large. The films are the part of a trilogy, where the first part (Northwards) is meant to engage. The Changing Global Arctic is meant to inform, and the third one (stay tuned) is to provoke.
The Arctic is warming 4x faster than the global average due to Arctic amplification. This rapid warming, driven by feedback processes like the Albedo effect, leads to reduced ice cover, increasing heat absorption and further accelerating warming. As a result, wildfires, permafrost thawing, and carbon release are intensifying, creating a feedback loop that worsens climate change, with global implications like rising sea levels.
Extreme Arctic events, such as the 2017 Greenland tsunami, are rising due to climate change. These events reshape landscapes, endanger ecosystems, and threaten Indigenous communities. Thawing permafrost and melting glaciers destabilize coastlines, increasing disaster frequency and severity. Scientists and Indigenous peoples collaborate to monitor and adapt to these changes, but challenges intensify as the Arctic warms.
The Arctic, home to 4 million people and 10% Indigenous, faces severe climate pressures impacting homes and traditions. In Tuktoyaktuk, Northern Canada, climate change causes erosion, threatening infrastructure and cultural sites. Rising temperatures and sea levels endanger the community, prompting relocations and adaptation strategies. Collaborations between scientists and locals aim to address these challenges, with Indigenous knowledge driving efforts to sustain their way of life.
Communities in the North face pressures from a warming world. INTERACT collaborates with scientists and Indigenous peoples to understand how increased Arctic tourism impacts them. For the Sami in Northern Europe, climate change and rising tourism are reshaping traditional lives. Tourism offers economic benefits but also presents challenges, such as conflicts with reindeer herding and environmental issues. Sustainable practices are crucial for balancing these effects.
