Photo: Christian Lambrechts
In the Arctic, key policy issues centre on the prospect
of retreating sea ice and the implications for shipping
and exploitation of oil and gas reserves. This raises is-
sues of jurisdiction and of regulatory regimes in the
Arctic marine environment.
In Antarctica, the projected decrease in sea-ice extent
is likely to contribute to an already rapid expansion of
the tourism industry with potential impacts on the en-
Policy and Perspectives
vironment and on the value of Antarctica in research.
This points to the need for a regulatory framework for
Antarctic tourism.
Changes in ice and snow raise policy issues at global, In the Himalayas–Hindu Kush region, projected chang-
regional and local scales. es in snowfall and glacier melt are expected to increase
risks of both floods and water shortages, potentially af-
Global fecting hundreds of millions of people. Strategies for
Ice, snow and climate change are closely linked. Miti- water management and land-use planning are needed to
gating climate change by reducing greenhouse gases reduce vulnerability to the impacts of global warming.
emissions is the main global policy response to miti-
gate changes in ice and snow. Local
The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report concluded that, Impacts of changes in ice and snow are already major
to avoid further and accelerated global warming with concerns in many Arctic communities. Examples of lo-
major negative consequences, greenhouse gases cal impacts are damage to coastal infrastructure from
must stop increasing and start decreasing no later thawing permafrost and increased storm surges, and
than 15 to 25 years from now. Economic assessments loss of access to subsistence resources for indigenous
indicate that this is achievable without significant people. Expansion of shipping and oil and gas develop-
welfare losses. ment will bring both local opportunities and potential
for negative economic and social effects. Most indi-
Regional vidual communities currently lack the capacity to cope
Adaptation policy must be tailored to regions and re- effectively with these stresses. Responses to these chal-
quires regional scientific knowledge and assessment lenges are likely to reflect differences in political and
of impacts of climate change. legal systems among Arctic states.
CHAPTER 1 HIGHLIGHTS 17