The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change declared in 1996 that there is evidence to suggest that human activity is influencing global climate.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution 200 years ago, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased mainly due to the burning of coal, oil and gasoline. Within the next 100 years, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is predicted to double and global air temperatures are expected to increase as a result. Average air temperatures in the western Arctic are predicted to be up to 5°C warmer than now by the middle of the 21st century. This warming will have impacts on the natural environment, northern communities and lifestyles. This poster highlights the causes of climate change and many potential impacts on thenatural environment and economic and social activities in the western Arctic. Some possible strategies to adapt to these impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are also presented.

Reference: Houghton, J.T., Meira Filho, L.G., Callander, B.A., Harris, N., Kattenberg, A. and Maskell, K. (ed.), 1996. Climate Change 1995: The science of climate change; Contribution of Working Group I to the second assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 584 p