Environment

Alaska’s federal permit authorizes a 19‑mile unpaved road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, connecting King Cove to Cold Bay airport. The state plans construction within a month, but conservation and tribal groups have sued to halt the project over endangered species and wilderness protections.

A foam cushion caught fire during a test that left four hydrogen bombs stranded on Arctic ice above U.S. Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base), raising concerns about radioactive contamination in the high‑north.

Gray whale deaths at Arctic feeding grounds have risen again in the past two years after a slowdown, reaching near record highs.

Beaver populations are moving further north into the Arctic, underscoring how rising temperatures are reshaping northern ecosystems.

Rick Whitbeck argues that Peltola’s proposal to ban factory trawling lacks evidence and ignores Alaska’s pollock fleet’s economic benefits, warning that removing this industry could leave Western Alaskan communities without jobs or research funding.

The Wrigley wildfire in Canada’s Northwest Territories expanded to 41,750 acres by July 12 but remains 12 km north of the community and has not endangered structures, while extreme fire weather and poor visibility have challenged containment efforts; hazardous tree removal specialists are working with Pehdzeh Ki First Nation to mitigate threats.

Scientists celebrated the first successful detection of a polar bear family by an Environment and Climate Change Canada monitoring system near a weather station in the High Arctic, marking progress in wildlife tracking.

Utility GVEA has proposed a turbine at the North Pole, arguing it would boost power‑grid reliability, but environmental advocates cite clean‑air concerns and urge alternative solutions.

An expedition mapping deep‑sea ecosystems found that Norway’s proposed mining plans could jeopardise fragile marine life.

Two companies plan to pump water into the Arctic to thicken sea ice as a geoengineering approach, but questions remain about how long the thickening would last.

Melting ice lets more sunlight reach the Arctic Ocean, stimulating phytoplankton growth but also exhausting a vital nutrient that supports the region's marine life.

The 2025 Arctic Report Card shows that thawing permafrost is releasing metals into water, accelerating rusting in Arctic environments.

Bruce M. Botelho argues that federal cuts to scientific agencies—including the shutdown of Anchorage Forestry Sciences Lab and suspension of NOAA weather balloon launches—threaten Alaska’s ability to monitor climate, manage fisheries, and forecast storms.

The former Soviet coal town of Pyramiden in Svalbard, still intact after its 1998 shutdown, remains a seasonal tourist destination with a functioning hotel and staff upkeep, but since 2022 Visit Svalbard has stopped promoting tours linked to the site amid concerns over Russian‑related attractions.

Grey whale carcasses found along British Columbia and Washington coastlines this year suggest a link between warming seas, reduced prey in the Bering/Chukchi feeding grounds, and the species’ rapid decline. Researchers urge designation as endangered to protect the remaining populations.

Peatlands are reportedly expanding across the Arctic amid rapid warming, a development highlighted on the LEO Weekly show.

Alaska’s first recorded mule‑deer kill by Westin Nelson underscores the species’ northward spread and raises concern that winter ticks carried by these deer could jump to moose. State hunters must submit tissue samples for disease screening under newly authorized, unrestricted hunting rules.

Scientists find that reductions in Arctic sea ice alter the amount of CO₂ the Ocean absorbs each year, with the region accounting for 2%–9% of the global marine carbon sink.

The U.S. National Park Service offers practical steps for anglers in four Alaskan parks to limit mercury intake, such as choosing certain species and cooking methods, helping protect visitor health while preserving Arctic fishery resources.

New research shows Arctic peatland areas are growing further north as temperatures rise, potentially increasing the region’s capacity to store carbon while signaling broader ecological shifts from climate change.