Over the past four decades, the Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet. This rapid warming has resulted in numerous impacts in the region, including the melting of glaciers and the Greenland ice sheet, sea ice retreat, changes in species distribution and abundance, permafrost thawing, shifts in surface water and snow conditions, and altered wildfire patterns.

In a recent study, Claire Mosoni et al. reviewed the literature on impacts of climate change in the Arctic using a conceptual framework on cross-border impacts.  The analysis revealed how regional warming, extreme weather events, and increased rainfall trigger initial impacts that can propagate and eventually become risks or opportunities that would require adaptation in areas even beyond the Arctic.

While impacts are often analyzed separately, the authors highlighted how a systemic view on the interactions between impacts can lead to cross-border risks affecting trade, critical infrastructure, finance, biophysical systems, geopolitical relationships, human security, and social justice. 

This new study could help to guide the planning of adaptation efforts to climate change both within the Arctic and in other regions, such as Europe, enabling policymakers to develop coherent responses to these interconnected risks.