Wildlife

Polar Bear Welfare and Climate Change

Polar bears are among the most visible victims of climate change, facing starvation and habitat loss as sea ice diminishes.

Key Facts

Arctic sea ice has declined by 13% per decade since satellite records began
Polar bears depend on sea ice to hunt their primary prey — ringed seals
Body condition scores of polar bears have declined in several studied populations
Longer ice-free periods mean longer fasting periods for bears on land

Welfare Considerations

Polar bear welfare is directly tied to climate policy. As sea ice diminishes, bears spend more time on land fasting. Mothers nursing cubs while fasting face severe nutritional stress. Starvation is a prolonged and painful death. Climate change represents the largest welfare threat to polar bears — individual bear welfare cannot be separated from global emissions policy.

What You Can Do

Support aggressive climate action as the primary polar bear welfare measure
Reduce personal carbon footprint and support carbon pricing policies
Avoid polar bear tourism that disturbs or habituates bears
Support sea ice monitoring and polar bear health research programs