Wildlife

Wild Polar Bear Welfare and Climate Change

Polar bears face existential threat from sea ice loss, causing starvation and population decline.

Key Facts

Polar bears depend on sea ice for hunting seals
Sea ice is declining at 13% per decade in the Arctic
Southern Hudson Bay polar bears have declined 30% in 30 years
By mid-century, ice-free Arctic summers may prevent polar bear survival in many areas

Welfare Considerations

Polar bears unable to access adequate food during increasingly long ice-free periods experience prolonged starvation. Bears in poor condition lose cubs — mothers may abandon cubs they cannot sustain. Desperate bears entering human settlements face lethal removal. The suffering of individual polar bears from climate-driven habitat loss represents one of the most urgent and visible wildlife welfare crises.

What You Can Do

Reduce your carbon footprint to address the root cause of sea ice loss
Support Polar Bears International and Arctic research organisations
Advocate for strong international climate policy and emission reduction targets
Engage with the science connecting climate policy to polar bear welfare outcomes