Polar bears are among the most iconic victims of climate change, with their welfare directly tied to sea ice extent and availability of their primary prey — ringed and bearded seals.
Polar bear welfare is deteriorating as climate change shrinks the sea ice they depend on. Extended fasting periods on land cause chronic nutritional stress, reducing reproductive success and cub survival. Females in poor body condition produce fewer and smaller cubs with higher mortality. Den collapse from warming winters kills nursing cubs directly. Malnourished bears increasingly approach human settlements in search of food, leading to conflict and lethal management. The welfare trajectory for polar bears under current climate projections is severe — without dramatic emission reductions, large portions of polar bear range will become unsuitable within decades. Climate action is the only meaningful long-term polar bear welfare intervention.