Climate change

Climate change is exerting “really scary” impacts on the Arctic with far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world, Barack Obama’s envoy for the region said on Friday.

Those changes, from melting sea ice to thawing permafrost and more frequent and severe storms, were leading the US and other countries to step up their presence in the remote and mineral-rich region, said Admiral Robert Papp, the State Department special representative for the Arctic.

Obama drew attention to a climate-changed Arctic during a visit to Alaska this week, hiking glaciers, cuddling husky puppies and visiting a remote indigenous community.