Global demand for goods continues to grow while Arctic summer sea ice is shrinking: Arctic shipping is heating up.
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Global Shipping Sector Steps Up, Sets Climate Targets And Bans Use Of Heavy Fuel Oil In Arctic
The IMO agreed to ban heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, a region on the frontline of the impacts of climate change
Read moreWhy it matters
90% of goods are transported by ship, and Arctic routes represent huge potential savings in time and costs.
Although Arctic routes will not be open year round, companies are already investing billions of dollars in tankers capable of going through ice.
Arctic sea routes
Our solutions
Take care near wildlife
WWF advises shipping companies on recognizing and avoiding marine mammals in ecologically sensitive areas.Rob Oo / flickr / CC BY
Prepare for icy conditions
Ships venturing into Arctic waters must be prepared for Arctic conditions, especially those carrying ecologically hazardous cargos.Canon / Brutus Ostling / WWF-Sweden
Prevent the spread of invasives
Operational practices for ships operating in Arctic waters should forbid the discharge of ballast waters in Arctic areas to prevent the introduction of alien species. These measures need to be backed up with monitoring and enforcement.Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0
Ban the dirtiest fuel
WWF is advocating for an Arctic-wide ban of Heavy fuel oil (HFO), a particularly dirty type of shipping fuel.US Geological Survey
How we work
Publications
The Circle 04.18
1 October 2018
Canada’s Arctic Marine Atlas
17 September 2018
Canadian Arctic Greywater Report
17 August 2018
The Circle 03.18
17 July 2018
Greenland Mariners' Guide
27 September 2017
Prospects and opportunities for using LNG for bunkering in the Arctic regions of Russia
1 July 2017Meet the team
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Communities
WWF works with communities throughout the Arctic to help them deal with the effects of climate change, support research, and bring northern stories to a global audience.
Climate Change
What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, and the world is already feeling the effects.