Pledge
The Central Arctic Ocean is a global treasure requiring international protection. Its sea ice-dominated ecosystems regulate global temperatures, stabilize the jet stream, and create remarkable marine productivity from plankton blooms and ice algae to fish, birds and marine mammals.
Its connections to Arctic coastal seas means it is relied upon by Arctic Indigenous peoples and coastal communities for food, cultural continuity, and economic opportunity.
The Arctic is warming four times faster than other parts of the planet, shrinking summer sea ice, setting off cascading changes to Arctic wildlife, creating great uncertainty for people living in the Arctic, and increasing the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events further south.
At this moment of greatest risk, the Central Arctic Ocean faces additional challenges from new industrial activities. These include transpolar shipping, which would bring large vessels through these waters to connect non-Arctic manufactured goods and bulk materials to distant markets, as well as deep sea mining — an untried method of strip mining metals from sea floors, continental crusts, and hydrothermal vents. Almost no consideration has taken place regarding how such activities could be done safely and without damaging the Central Arctic Ocean.
As organizations and individuals who care deeply about the climate risks already impacting or threatening the Arctic, we urge immediate action to protect the Central Arctic Ocean.
We call upon nations to take action to negotiate an agreement that:
The Central Arctic Ocean is one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, yet it has received far too little attention. It is a shared global commons that has protected us, and it now needs our protection. Scientists are making new discoveries every day that prove how reliant and interconnected we are with our north pole.
And there’s good news! The Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement (CAOFA) established a precedent for international collaboration and a precautionary approach that involves the active participation of Arctic Indigenous peoples. We are seeking to build on this foundation in pursuit of a modern model of sustainable ocean governance and deliver additional protections.
By adding your name, you’re joining other global citizens, as well as scientists and corporations, in establishing a global mandate to take a precautionary approach to industrial activity in the Central Arctic Ocean.
Momentum is building toward an international agreement. Signatures will be delivered to government officials at key moments to emphasize global support to protect the Central Arctic Ocean. Stay tuned as we share more opportunities to dive deeper into advocacy for the heart of the Arctic.
