Alert for the increase of the temperature of the Arctic: "The thaw will wake a sleeping giant"

The temperature of the Arctic will undergo an increase of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius until 2050, a situation that will "devastate" the region and raise the level of the oceans in the world., according to a report presented today by the UN Environment in Nairobi.

"The idea is to highlight the relationship between the Arctic and its global connections and to find solutions that can also help the rest of the world"Bjorn Alfthan, spokesperson for the Norwegian GRID-Arendal Foundation, co-author of the text, during his presentation to the IV United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4).

Under the title "Global Links: A Graphical Look at Arctic Change," the text reveals that the thaw could awaken the "sleeping giant" that this region badumes and cause more greenhouse gases, as well as an increase in acidification and pollution of the oceans.

The survey, divided into three parts – climate change, pollution and biodiversity – was led by researcher Tina Schoolmeester, GRID-Arendal Polar Affairs Coordinator, and is based on a study by the Arctic Council, still waiting for publication.

"Many of these changes occurring in the Arctic are irreversible and can affect its population and the biodiversity of the region", continued Alfthan, whoHe defined the Arctic as "a sink for global pollution".

The Arctic has more than four million inhabitants, about 10% of whom are Aboriginal and work mainly in the mining, fishing and timber sectors.

One of the main problems he is now facing the region is melting permafrost, lands that remain frozen for more than two years in high latitudes and are breaking, resulting in the release of carbon stored in these soils.

The contamination of plastics that, according to the UN-Environment, "does not include borders", also affects the Arctic because, as Alfthan explains, "is a global problem".

GRID-Arendal's Spanish researcher, Joan Fabres, said in an interview with Efe that it was one of the conclusions that surprised him the most, especially in the report: "pollution by the plastic affects every corner of the planet ".

"What people need to understand is that there are no more virgin areas on the planet, especially with respect to plastics contamination," said L & # 39; expert, also specialized in ocean acidification.

Fabres highlighted the geostrategic interests that this region generates for countries like China or South Korea.either through the exploitation of natural resources or by understanding its effects on environmental problems in other parts of the planet.

"An appropriate approach to this issue is that of the Arctic Council, which proposes regional programs of action, which are complemented by the initiatives of each country," said the researcher.

We think that since 1979, the Arctic sea ice has decreased by 40% and, according to experts, if current CO2 emissions continue, Arctic summers will be ice-free by the 2030s.

Established in 1996, the Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum that addresses issues affecting Arctic countries and indigenous peoples in the region.