The unique flora and fauna in the high Arctic climate zone may disappear and never return again, says the Danish scientific leader of the report group, Hans Meltofte, to the Danish newspaper Politiken. During 6 years Hans Meltofte has headed the large team of researchers who within the framework of the project ‘Arctic Biodiversity Assessment’ document biodiversity in the Arctic.

The report focuses on the climate changes in the Arctic, changes that are taking place at record speed. Global warming implies that climate zones move almost 2 kilometers to the north every year, and in this way the world’s northern-most climate zone, the ‘high Arctic’, will disappear if actions are not taken immediately.

The report is an important document for the Arctic Council where Russia, USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland discuss and regulate the development in the Arctic. However, several interest groups criticise the Arctic Council for lack of action power, and Hans Meltofte finds it rather unlikely that efficient action will be taken against the climate change.

Read more about the threat against the high Arctic fauna and flora (in Danish):

http://politiken.dk/klima/ECE2037944/arktisk-raad-kritiseres-for-at-lade-en-hel-klimazone-doe/

Read about the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment: http://www.arcticbiodiversity.is/