Environment

David Jenkins argues that Alaska’s proposed Pebble gold mine and Johnson Tract silver‑gold project threaten the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, worth over $2.2 billion and supporting 15,000 jobs, and the state’s tourism economy, potentially reversing the state’s economic diversification and risking a resource curse.

The ATLAS/ICESat‑2 L3B Gridded Antarctic and Arctic Land Ice Height V006 dataset offers a 100 m high‑resolution digital elevation model of the Antarctic ice sheet and surrounding Arctic regions, aiding research on ice‑sheet dynamics and sea‑level rise.

Workshop on the Governance of Sea-Ice Geoengineering in the Arctic

Gray whale numbers are falling as Arctic sea ice continues to shrink, a trend that experts warn could persist throughout the 21st century.

Arctic Council marks 30 years of cooperation with launch of a Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter, moving beyond assessments to actionable policy.

The site offers monthly and daily images of Arctic sea‑ice extent, overlaying a 30‑year median outline to highlight long‑term changes.

A 31‑year‑old Sámi‑heritage artist created the interactive Onne map, merging satellite data on mining, wind farms, roads and reindeer migration routes to help Swedish decision‑makers weigh green‑energy expansion against Sámi land rights amid a national election debate. The tool aims to visualize cumulative pressures and guide equitable development.

MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC is negotiating with a Chinese partner for a copper‑processing deal that would let it shut down its heavily polluting plant in the Arctic city of Norilsk. The move could cut environmental impacts in the high‑north region.

The debate in Kodiak on Sep. 12, 2026 saw Alaska’s leading House contenders, Rep. Nick Begich III and independent Bill Hill, endorse bycatch limits and greater Alaska representation on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, stressing zero‑bycatch as an ultimate objective.

The study quantifies methane emissions from meltwater in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during the spring thaw, shedding light on the region’s greenhouse gas budget and its potential impact on global climate.

Defend Critical Safety Rules for Arctic Ocean Drilling

The Last Ice Area, spanning about one million square kilometers north of Canada and Greenland, serves as the Arctic’s ecological anchor, prompting calls for governance frameworks that match the scale of natural systems.

The Last Ice Area is expected to become the Arctic’s final refuge for multi‑year sea ice, highlighting its importance beyond just ice cover.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources has sued nine North Slope oil and gas operators, including Brooks Range Petroleum, to determine who will pay to plug and close three semi‑abandoned wells at Beechey Point. The case, filed in Anchorage Superior Court, is still pending and has not yet scheduled proceedings.

In 2026 the Northwest Territories burned 1.694 million hectares—its third‑worst season of the century—raising fire‑frequency concerns. The final update counted 230 active fires, double the 110 in British Columbia, and Fort Simpson remained under a smoke advisory after earlier evacuation.

Scientists uncovered nine new deep‑sea sponge species off Alaska, boosting the region’s known marine biodiversity to 232 species, but the fragile sponge communities face threats from proposed deep‑sea mining and bottom‑trawling that could damage essential habitats.

Sea ice loss and altered food availability in the Svalbard archipelago are shrinking critical habitats for migratory birds, underscoring escalating ecological risks from Arctic climate change.

Copernicus Monitoring Service data indicate Siberian fires have turned permafrost from a carbon sink into a source, with rising methane releases.

Nicole Whittington‑Evans warns that the proposed Izembek road will damage vital wetlands and wildlife, citing a federal judge’s vacated land exchange and ongoing construction threats.

Scientists found that most of the ancient carbon released from thawing Arctic permafrost is trapped in seabed sediments instead of quick atmospheric release. This could slow immediate greenhouse gas emissions but leaves questions about long‑term storage and climate impacts.

A young arctic fox completed an unprecedented 3506‑km ice trek from Norway’s Svalbard to northern Canada, underscoring the movement of Arctic wildlife across shrinking sea ice.