The simple answer, and usually the most popular one, to the question of which Arctic issue is the greatest threat generally falls back on climate change. This fact is unfortunate, as there are several other considerably significant issues currently plaguing the Arctic just as devastating, or in conjunction with, the substantial transformation of our worldwide weather patterns. The concern I am referring to is the pollution of the Arctic environment.
I asked several of my educated and politically conscious cohorts the same question alluded to at the beginning of this response. Almost every one of their answers revolved around climate change and oil. Because of the extreme amount of attention on this particular issue, I believe it is important to recognize the massive problem of pollution so it is not forgotten. According to the website Oceansnorth.org, more and more ships are using the Northwest Passage and, therefore, dump, or lose, their copious amounts of sewage and chemicals. The damage done from this is multi-faceted, affecting animal life, accelerating the harm done by climate change, and debilitating the entire environmental wellbeing.
The many aspects of the Arctic environment that pollution affects is unnerving and requires much attention. This is why I believe that more focus has to be put on pollution in addition to combatting climate change. It is essential that the narratives we spin do not become one dimensional, leading to another issue becoming even more harmful. These other issues need to be brought to the forefront of the international community, stressing its importance. Addressing pollution, and other Arctic problems, cannot be done without an informed public and a conscious international community.