Astonishing Arctic Ice Melt Becomes National Security Threat

The Arctic may become ice free as soon as 2015, 85 years earlier than recent predictions, prompting a briefing of top U.S. government officials, including those from the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, by Arctic specialists.

1 minute read

May 2, 2013, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

Mbz1 / Wikimedia Commons

"Senior US government officials are to be briefed at the White House this week on the danger of an ice-free Arctic in the summer within two years," reports Nafeez Ahmed. "This is the latest indication that US officials are increasingly concerned about the international and domestic security implications of climate change."

"Extreme weather events over the last few years apparently driven by the accelerating Arctic melt process - including unprecedented heatwaves and droughts in the US and Russia, along with snowstorms and cold weather in northern Europe – have undermined harvests, dramatically impacting global food production and contributing to civil unrest," notes Ahmed.

FULL STORY: White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral

Thursday, May 2, 2013 in The Guardian

Environment World Climate Change Arctic Ice Melt

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